Santo Domingo Book Fair Sets Record with $75 Million in Sales

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The 2025 Santo Domingo International Book Fair (FILSD 2025) has concluded, reporting a record-breaking 75 million Dominican pesos (approximately $1.27 million USD) in book sales, a more than 30% increase over last year's figures.

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These results firmly establish the fair as the most significant literary event in the Dominican Republic and across the Caribbean region.

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During the closing ceremony, Minister of Culture Roberto Ángel Salcedo announced that the 28th edition of the fair will take place from September 24 to October 4, 2026. He reiterated the Ministry of Culture's dedication to bolstering the publishing sector and promoting reading nationwide.

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FILSD 2025 saw massive attendance and a historic record of approximately 650 activities, including conferences, talks, book presentations, colloquiums, recitals, workshops, film screenings, and theatrical performances. The fair once again served as a vital meeting point for authors, editors, cultural managers, booksellers, and readers of all ages.

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The closing event, held at the Juan Bosch Auditorium of the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National Library, was attended by Deputy Minister of Cultural Identity and Citizenship Pastor de Moya, Book Fair Director Joan Ferrer, and historian Frank Moya Pons, this edition's honored author. Writers, exhibitors, booksellers, and Ministry of Culture collaborators were also present.

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Salcedo reported that the "Bono Libro" program distributed 11,045 free books to students, part of an initiative to democratize access to reading.

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The fair dedicated special attention to children's literature, with a focus on encouraging reading among young people. The Children's Pavilion hosted 70 activities, including workshops, storytelling sessions, and educational experiences.

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The Latin American Network of Literary Fairs and Festivals was the guest of honor, underscoring the event's international scope. This edition welcomed representatives from 19 countries, 165 invited authors, nine fair directors, and more than 370 publishing imprints.

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Tens of thousands of students from over 620 educational centers across the country also attended, enjoying a program specifically tailored for them in coordination with the Ministry of Education.

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The event's infrastructure included five exhibition and sales pavilions, five thematic pavilions, and seven auditoriums. Special areas featured a Business Room, the Third Fair of Old and Used Books, the Playful Oasis, and sections dedicated to bibliodiversity and comics, with the latter proving highly popular as in previous years.

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The "Multiplicando Letras" program brought together 68 managers and workshop leaders from 30 provinces, who participated in 127 training and exchange activities. The Business Room facilitated 93 professional meetings involving 29 international publishers from seven countries, solidifying its role as a strategic hub for the Dominican publishing system.

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Throughout the fair, 130 books were launched or presented, alongside 12 conferences, 106 talks, 72 colloquiums, 39 recitals, 16 plays, 44 workshops, 40 film screenings, and six panels, in addition to numerous artistic and literary exhibitions.

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In terms of sales, Eva Muñoz's book, “Boss,” was the top seller, with the author signing over 1,500 copies at a widely attended event. Among the publications from Editora Nacional, Frank Moya Pons’ “La otra historia” was the most popular.

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Minister Roberto Ángel Salcedo expressed his satisfaction with the achieved results, commending the organization, the extensive public participation, and the overall strengthening of the Dominican publishing sector.

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Certified as a "Country Brand Dominican Republic" since 2023, the FILSD continues to serve as a platform for cultural integration and a regional benchmark for the creative industry and literary endeavors.