To celebrate the World Book Day, on Saturday, April 25, from 9 am to 11 pm, Instituto Cervantes de Manila, together with the Embassy of Spain, and with the support of Ayala Land and Make it Makati, invite visitors to the Ayala Triangle Gardens for the iconic Día del Libro. This full-day celebration promises a vibrant line-up of activities, designed to inspire and share the joy of reading with everyone.
From fiction to non-fiction, poetry to prose, thousands of books will be up for grabs at the Ayala Triangle. The Día del Libro will feature Manila’s top bookstores and publishing houses, that will be selling a wide array of books at a 20% discount. Following the tradition in Spain, each book purchase will come with a free rose.
Día del Libro will officially kick off at 9:00 am with a special inauguration led by H. E. Miguel Utray, Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines, marking the official opening of this year’s celebration.
Among the activities of Día del Libro 2026, a classic stands out: Escribo el Quijote. Like every year, to commemorate the Day of Miguel de Cervantes, Instituto Cervantes is challenging visitors to join a Quixotic attempt: to handwrite the classic novel Don Quixote de La Mancha -an initiative which Instituto Cervantes started a decade ago. The final hand-written book will be deposited in the Library of Instituto Cervantes. The activity will begin at 9:00 am. No prior registration will be required. Participants in the handwriting chain will receive a free book from Instituto Cervantes.
At 9:45 a.m., Instituto Cervantes will host Plantadores de Historias (Story Planters), an activity that invites participants to write poems and short stories on plantable papers, which are then planted on a pot to grow into a plant. This activity uniquely combines ecology and literature, making it specially engaging and meaningful.
On Día del Libro, children and teens will also find their place as they enjoy a story telling session at 10:15a.m. The story “Las aventuras de Don Quijote” (The Adventures of Don Quixote), offers a delightful first introduction to the world of Don Quijote.
Libros que Importan (Books That Matter) is a public book exchange where participants anonymously share books they love. Each donated book includes a personal note explaining why it holds special meaning, creating a deeper connection between readers.
At 12:00 p.m., theatre lovers can catch a sneak peek of Repertory Philippines’ upcoming production of Man of La Mancha, the Tony Award-winning musical inspired by Don Quijote. In this heartfelt adaptation, Nonie Buencamino takes on the dual roles of Don Quijote and Miguel de Cervantes, bringing the story to life with stirring music, and unforgettable moments in an exclusive early preview.
The Argentinian tango performance “Tango para siempre” (Tango Forever) at 12:30p.m. will share stories through movement, with each step and gesture reflecting the joy and rhythm of literature.
At 1:00 p.m., the Design Center of the Philippines will conduct hands-on workshops on handmade paper, making and journal making, offering participants a creative way to craft their own unique stationary.
Through the poetry recital “Bersong Hispano-Pinoy” at 1:30p.m., Instituto Cervantes invites poetry lovers to bring Spanish and Filipino verses to life, celebrating the beauty of the language and the art of expression.
From 3:00 p.m., Spanish language learners will have the chance to take part in an Universitarian Yincana specially designed for university students across Manila. This event will include activities such as dance, live music, quizzes, poetry creation, drawings and more. Thanks to the collaboration of local university departments, this initiative seeks to go beyond fun and entertainment — aiming to build a strong, engaged community of university students, who are learning Spanish in the city. Participants will not only practice their language skills in a playful context, but also connect with fellow learners from other campuses.
For those interested in art, Instituto Cervantes is presenting the space Latag, where Urban Sketchers Manila will display their works on Día del Libro, and conduct a workshop on sketching.
As part of Día de Libro, Instituto Cervantes will offer free beginner Spanish classes at 10:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. Visit the Instituto Cervantes booth to join these sessions.
Book lovers can look forward to book launch presentations organized by several publishers. Visitors will also have the chance to meet authors, and get their books personally signed, thanks to the collaboration of participating publishing houses.
As gastronomy is an essential part of culture, the participants will have the chance to savor the flavors of Spanish cuisine throughout the day. Don’t miss the special Paella Gigante at 6:15PM, presented by the Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, where the dish will be cooked live accompanied by a vibrant flamenco performance, creating a festive and immersive experience for everyone.
To end the evening on a high note, Instituto Cervantes will present a live concert by a renowned Filipino reggae-band Brownman Revival, starting at 8pm, followed by a lively DJ session to close Día del Libro 2026 in style.
Whether you’re a lifelong reader or just discovering the joy of books, the Día del Libro 2026 at the Instituto Cervantes de Manila is a day to celebrate the power of words to connect us with each other and to the world around us.
Día del Libro 2026 is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, Embassy of Spain in the Philippines and AECID Philippines, in collaboration with National Book Development Board of the Philippines, Spanish Chamber of Commerce in The Philippines – La Cámara, Asesoría de Educación en Filipinas, Make It Makati, Ayala Triangle Gardens, Ayala Land, Inc., Design Center of the Philippines, Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, Embajada de Argentina en Filipinas, Embajada de Chile en Filipinas, Embajada de Colombia en Filipinas – Embassy of Colombia to the Philippines, Embajada de México en Filipinas, Repertory Philippines, Manila SBKZ Latin Dance Festival, UP College of Music, Circle of Chabacano Dreams, Atrapavientos, Kalon Film Productions and the best bookstores and publishing houses in Manila: Anvil Publishing, Artbooks.ph, Ateneo University Press, 19th Avenida, Isang Balangay Media Productions, Bookforless, Circle of Chabacano Dreams, FEU Bookstore, Fullybooked, Bien Chabacano, Kahel Press, Milflores Publishing, Ortigas Foundation, Tawid Publications, Vibal Publishing House, Piefke Trading, Central Books, Everything’s Fine, Komiket.com, Plaza Books, Good Intentions Books and Exploding Galaxies.
Admission to all Día del Libro activities is FREE on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis.
Link to Día del Libro teaser: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yPz8y1GI0lo
For more information about Instituto Cervantes de Manila’s Día del Libro 2026, visit the pages https://cultura.cervantes.es/manila/en/d%c3%ada-del-libro-2026/187244 or www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.
