Like all self-respecting book fairs and festivals nowadays, Bookafest has a professionals element ,“Publishers’ Forum,” where industry leaders can discuss trends and network.
With a literacy rate of over 97% and 89.6% internet penetration, Costa Rica is a literary oasis in Central America, and one Spanish-language publishers everywhere might want to think more about.
Bookafest 2025 would be a good place to start.
Only Five Million People?
Don’t be put off by the “only” 5 million population – there are plenty of vibrant publishing economies in that rage – Denmark with 5.9 million, Norway with 5.2 million, Finland with 5.6 million, etc.
Origins
Bookafest will take place on Avenida Escazú in Escazú, San José.
The festival’s name, a blend of “book” and “festival” in case you had missed that, reflects its mission to make literature accessible, engaging, and fun.
Bookafest launched in 2023 and has grown from a local event into an international platform, attracting authors, publishers, and readers from across Latin America and beyond.
Celebrating Diversity: A Platform for Local and Indigenous Voices
Costa Rica’s rich cultural heritage is a central theme at Bookafest. The festival provides a platform for local and indigenous authors to share their stories, often overlooked in the global publishing landscape.
For example, in 2023, Bookafest featured a dedicated pavilion for indigenous literature, showcasing works written in native languages such as Bribri and Cabécar.
This focus on diversity extends to the festival’s programming, which includes bilingual events (Spanish and English) and sessions on translating Latin American literature for international audiences.
Publishers Forum
Like all self-respecting book fairs and festivals nowadays, Bookafest has a professionals element ,“Publishers’ Forum,” where industry leaders can discuss trends and network.
The much bigger FIL Costa Rica will take place in June. Stay tuned for more on that as details emerge.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
