The Porto Book Fair is back at the Crystal Palace Gardens through September 6, featuring more than 200 events spread across 144 booths run by publishers, booksellers, and secondhand book dealers. We’ve put together a practical guide for anyone planning to visit: when to go, who will be there, and what not to miss.
When and where
The 13th edition takes place from August 21 to September 6 in the Crystal Palace Gardens, with free admission. The event began in 1930 as “Book Week” in Praça da Liberdade and has been organized by the Porto City Council since 2014.
This year’s honoree: Inês Lourenço
The 2026 edition pays tribute to the poet Inês Lourenço, born in Porto in 1942 and recently awarded the Gil Vicente Grand Prize for Poetry.
International names, for the first time
One of the major new features of this edition is the presence of international guests—a first in the Fair’s history. Among the names already confirmed are Palestinian poet and activist Mohammed El-Kurd, as well as Rim Battal, Elvis Guerra, Keeley Forsyth, and Angélica Liddell. The organizers assure us that additional names will be announced before the opening. This edition is also the first to be curated by a predominantly female team.
Concerts and outdoor movies
Every day, in the late afternoon, the Concha Acústica hosts a free concert, featuring artists such as Manuela Azevedo and Hélder Gonçalves (Clã), Janeiro with Tatanka, and Lena d’Água with Benjamim closing out the series. In addition to music, there are also outdoor film screenings, exhibitions, and art installations scattered throughout the gardens.
For the younger crowd
The 83 sessions designed for babies, children, teens, and families include creative workshops, reading sessions, movies, and traditional games, held throughout the Crystal Palace Gardens and the Almeida Garrett Municipal Library.
Useful Information
📍Where: Crystal PalaceGardens , Rua de Dom Manuel II, Porto (near the Casa da Música metro station)
📆When: Monday through Thursday, 12 p.m.–9 p.m.; Friday, 12 p.m.–10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
🎟️Price: freeadmission
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