Feria del Libro de Madrid

What Feria del Libro de Madrid does

The Feria del Libro de Madrid is an annual book fair organized by the non-profit Asociación de Empresarias y Empresarios del Comercio del Libro de Madrid, held since 1967 in Madrid's El Retiro Park along the 1,200-meter Paseo de Coches. Founded in 1933 as part of Semana Cervantina, the 85th edition (FLMadrid26) was held from May 29 to June 14, 2026, themed "Leer y reír: dos formas de resistir" (Reading and laughing: two ways of resisting). The fair operates 365 booths occupied exclusively by members of the Association of Bookstores of Madrid, the Association of Publishers of Madrid, and the FANDE distributors federation. The 85th edition attracted over 730,000 unique visitors and recorded €9.86 million in book sales across 587,014 copies sold, while the broader program included author signings, concerts, workshops, and cultural activities serving more than 20,000 attendees of secondary programming.

The organization supplements the annual 17-day physical event with year-round programming including Indómitas (an alternative editorial space in its fourth edition featuring experimental publishing from 10 countries), Los Pequeños Gigantes de la Lectura (a primary school reading competition engaging 11,000+ students from 300 schools, now expanded to the United States and Mexico), Leer Iberoamérica Lee (a transatlantic literary encounter in its eighth edition with participation from 37 countries), El vaivén de la Feria (community outreach into hospitals, prisons, and social centers), and the Taller de Libros Periodísticos with Martín Caparrós. Its technology footprint is conventional: a WordPress-based website with WooCommerce online store, PayPal and Stripe payment processing, YouTube video streaming, and broad social media presence across Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Flickr.

The business model combines booth rental income from exhibitors, corporate sponsorship (CaixaBank, Iberia, VIPS, Repsol), and public subsidies from the Madrid City Council, Community of Madrid, Spanish Ministry of Culture, and the European Commission, with no visitor admission fee. The fair generates revenue across four streams without charging entry to attendees, and an online merchandise store extends sales beyond event dates. Sponsors gain visibility over the 17-day event window and year-round activities, while the organization pursues an ISO 20121-aligned sustainability management system, achieving a 37.3% reduction in carbon footprint in 2025 (39.9 tonnes CO2e versus 62.6 tonnes in 2024). The current director Eva Orúe's five-edition tenure (2022-2026) is concluding, with the Association of Bookstores of Madrid having communicated the transition.

Name

Feria del Libro de Madrid

Legal name

ASOCIACIÓN DE EMPRESARIAS Y EMPRESARIOS DEL COMERCIO DEL LIBRO DE MADRID

Website

https://ferialibromadrid.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Feria del Libro de Madrid is an annual book fair organized by a non-profit trade association in Madrid's El Retiro Park, serving general readers, bookstores, publishers, and Ibero-American literary professionals through a 17-day event and year-round literacy and community outreach programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Book Fair / Cultural Events

NAICS

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural & Heritage Entertainment Booking (Traditional/Folk Acts) (HSACAHAG)

Keywords

• Book fair management
• Cultural event services
• Literary programming
• Publishing industry events
• Reading promotion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Booth/Space Rental: Exhibitors (bookstores, publishers, distributors) pay for booth space at the fair. Participants must be members of their respective trade associations (Association of Bookstores of Madrid, Association of Publishers of Madrid, or federated distributor associations).
2. Sponsorship and Patronage: Corporate sponsors provide financial support in exchange for visibility and brand association with the event. Sponsors receive incomparable visibility during 17 days of the event and year-round activities.
3. Online Store Sales: The fair operates an e-commerce platform selling official fair merchandise including posters and other branded items.
4. Public Subsidies and Grants: The fair receives financial support from various public institutions including the Madrid City Council, Community of Madrid, Ministry of Culture, and European Commission.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Feria del Libro de Madrid organizes and operates an annual 17-day book fair in El Retiro Park, Madrid, attracting 730,000+ visitors and 9.86 million euros in sales (2026 edition). It performs event management, exhibitor booth rentals for booksellers/publishers/distributors, cultural programming including author signings and literary workshops, and operates a year-round online store for official merchandise and a portfolio of cultural initiatives such as Indómitas, Los Pequeños Gigantes de la Lectura, Leer Iberoamérica Lee, El Vaivén de la Feria, and the Taller de Libros Periodísticos.

Product overview

The Feria del Libro de Madrid is a major annual cultural event centered on the book fair itself in El Retiro Park, complemented by year-round programming including Los pequeños gigantes de la lectura (a literacy initiative), Indómitas (an alternative publishing space), Leer Iberoamérica Lee (Ibero-American literary encounter), El vaivén de la Feria (community outreach), author signing sessions, and an official merchandise store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indómitas: Alternative editorial space dedicated to experimental publishing projects, independent editors, artist books, fanzines, and self-publications. Fourth edition in 2026.
• Los Pequeños Gigantes de la Lectura
• El Vaivén de la Feria
• Leer Iberoamérica Lee
• Taller de Libros Periodísticos

Products and services

• Annual Book Fair (Feria del Libro de Madrid) Annual cultural event held in El Retiro Park, Madrid, since 1967, promoting books, reading, and the publishing industry. The 85th edition (FLMadrid26) was held from May 29 to June 14, 2026, attracting over 730,000 unique visitors and achieving 9.86 million euros in sales of 587,014 books across 365 booths.
• Los Pequeños Gigantes de la Lectura A loud reading game and video contest for 4th grade Primary students, fostering love for books and bibliodiversity in a playful manner. Manages reading competitions and educational programming for schools.
• Indómitas Alternative editorial space within the Fair dedicated to experimental and non-conventional publishing projects including independent publishers, artist books, fanzines, and self-publications from Latin America, Europe, and the US.
• Leer Iberoamérica Lee Transatlantic encounter space for Ibero-American literature organized within the Fair, bringing together writers, artists, editors, librarians, and cultural mediators from Africa, Latin America, and Europe.
• El Vaivén de la Feria Year-round initiative that takes the Fair to different community spaces (hospitals, prisons, social centers) and invites participants to visit the Fair, extending reading culture beyond the 17-day event.
• Official Merchandise Store (Tienda) Online shop selling official Fair merchandise including books, promotional items, posters, and commemorative products to the general public.
• Author Signings Program (Firmas) Calendar of author signing sessions where published authors meet readers at exhibitor booths throughout the Fair period.
• Taller de Libros Periodísticos con Martín Caparrós Annual workshop for Ibero-American journalists and writers working on nonfiction book projects, organized with the Fundación Gabo, held during the Fair.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.86 million euros in sales during FLMadrid26
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• EnveraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Social foundation of Iberia collaborating on 'El vaivén de la Feria' activities including podcast recording.
• Dis-Friendly (Grupo Envera)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Accessibility and inclusion certification awarded to the fair in 2026 for its commitment to universal access to culture.
• RepsolcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2024Multi-energy sponsor providing renewable fuels, solar panels, and carsharing services (Wible) for the fair. Supplies 4000 liters of renewable fuel and installed 176 solar panels in 2025, expanded to 212 panels in 2026.
• PALIMPSESTOmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Cultural innovation company managing 'Los Pequeños Gigantes de la Lectura' reading competition, inspired by French and German initiatives, engaging 11,000+ primary school students annually.
• Madrid CompensamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Carbon offset program of Madrid City Council. Fair has collaborated since 2018 to compensate CO2 emissions through tree planting in Madrid.
• CaixaBankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor providing financial support and visibility during the fair.
• IberiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor and airline partner facilitating international participation.
• VIPScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor providing hospitality and dining services visibility.
• Madrid City Council (Ayuntamiento de Madrid)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional collaborator providing public space (El Retiro Park), sponsorship through Madrid Compensa carbon offset program, and general support.
• Comunidad de MadridcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government collaborator and institutional supporter of the fair.
• Ministerio de CulturacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational government ministry supporting the fair and awarding the Premio Nacional al Fomento de la Lectura in 2003.
• Carbono GestiónminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbon footprint measurement and management consultancy that elaborated the fair's 2025 carbon inventory.
• FSC EspañaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest Stewardship Council providing recyclable paper bags for exhibitors.
• AquaserviceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater service provider supplying dispensers that extend to 50 uses, reducing single-use plastic consumption.
• SeurminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics partner enabling centralized delivery with electric vehicles.
• Santiago García-ClairacminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor/padrino of 'Los Pequeños Gigantes de la Lectura' reading competition for the past two editions.
• POETAS FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of 'Indómitas' space for experimental and independent publishers, now in its fourth edition in 2026.
• Fundación GabomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator with the annual Taller de Libros Periodísticos directed by Martín Caparrós, held during the fair for 11 editions. Gabriel García Márquez founded the foundation.
• Casa de AméricamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of 'Leer Iberoamérica Lee' seminar (8th edition in 2026), bringing together writers from Latin America, Africa, and Europe for literary exchange.
• Laboratorio EmiliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of 'Leer Iberoamérica Lee' seminar.
• JCastilho ConsultoresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partner for 'Leer Iberoamérica Lee' seminar.
• CERLALCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO center for book policy supporting 'Leer Iberoamérica Lee' program.
• Feria del Libro de BoloniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBologna Children's Book Fair collaborating with 'Leer Iberoamérica Lee' program.
• ONCEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish organization for the blind providing accessible tours and services for people with visual disabilities at the fair.
• Save the ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO participating in 'El vaivén de la Feria' outreach activities.
• RTVEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic broadcasting corporation as media collaborator covering the fair.
• EFEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNews agency as media collaborator covering the fair.
• 20minutosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNewspaper as media collaborator covering the fair.
• Asociación de Librerías de MadridcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizing association representing bookstores, holds legal and organizational responsibility for the fair since 1982.
• Asociación de Editores de MadridcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizing association representing publishers, co-organizer of the fair.
• FANDE (Federación de Asociaciones Nacionales de Distribuidores de Ediciones)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizing federation representing distributors, co-organizer of the fair.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair): The world's largest trade book fair, held annually in Frankfurt with a century-plus history. Directly comparable as a multi-day book industry convention featuring exhibitor booths, author signings, international rights trading, and a themed edition each year.
• Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (FIL): The largest Spanish-language book fair in the world, held annually in Mexico with eight-figure visitor counts. Directly comparable in mission (Spanish-language book promotion, author programming, exhibitor halls) and the primary international counterpart for Madrid within the Hispanic book world.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FLMadrid
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/FeriadelLibrodeMadrid
• Facebookfacebook.com/FeriadelLibroMadrid
• Instagraminstagram.com/ferialibromadrid
• TikToktiktok.com/@ferialibromadrid
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/feria-del-libro-de-madrid

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Feria del Libro de Madrid