Rabat Unveils Ambitious Cultural Programme as UNESCO World Book Capital 2026

Rabat: The activities for Rabat as the "World Book Capital 2026" were officially announced, with the Moroccan capital set to launch its programme on 24 April 2026, featuring 342 events. According to Oman News Agency, Latifa Mouftakir, Commissioner General of the "Rabat, World Book Capital" programme, stated that the city is launching a year-long cultural initiative that places people at the heart of the cultural landscape and makes interaction with cultural products a catalyst for human development. She outlined a range of planned activities distributed across 12 strategic themes, including open reading events, literary cafes, public awareness campaigns on the importance of reading in public spaces, exhibitions, mobile libraries, literary residencies, conferences for book professionals, training courses, and workshops. Mouftakir stated that Rabat's designation as World Book Capital by UNESCO was based on a comprehensive assessment of historical, intellectual, and cultural criteria. These criteria stemmed from the city's relationship with books and the transmission of knowledge, evidenced by its mosques and libraries, which bear the hallmarks of a cultural tradition. This tradition has been further enriched by modern institutions, including universities, institutes, cultural centres, and a network of associations. The events are characterised by an approach to books, extending their reach beyond the traditional confines of libraries and exhibitions. They are now reaching citizens in hospitals, correctional facilities, orphanages, youth centres, and throughout their daily lives - in bus stations, public transport hubs, squares, and parks. Rabat was declared the World Book Capital for 2026, following Rio de Janeiro in 2025. UNESCO recognised the Moroccan capital as a cultural hub for the exchange of knowledge and the arts, noting that the local book industry plays a role in advancing education in line with UNESCO's objectives. The city is home to 54 publishing houses and a number of libraries.