The Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) has grown from a venue offering discounted books into a five-day gathering that brings Filipino readers, authors, publishers, educators, and international participants together.

The fair first opened its doors more than 40 years ago. While affordable books remain part of its appeal, Tinette Capistrano, vice-president of Primetrade Asia, Inc. and an MIBF organizer, said the event has developed into a broader experience.

“It’s not just selling. It’s more experiential now,” Ms. Capistrano told BusinessWorld on Sept. 9, the first day of this year’s event. “I’d say coming to the book fair has become an experience. This is where all the authors and publishers come together under one roof for five days, doing the best they can to engage with their readers.”

Organized by Primetrade Asia, MIBF 2026 features book discounts, author signings, and interactive showcases from major local and international publishers. The fair has returned to the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City and runs through Sept. 13 under the theme “Get Lit: Reading in a New Light.”

A broad literary showcase

The fair’s expanded floor plan includes large retail areas and flagship booths from major bookstore chains and educational publishers, including Fully Booked, National Book Store, 19th Avenida Publishing House, Abiva Publishing House, Adarna House, Anvil Publishing, and Ateneo de Manila University Press.

Educational materials are available from C\u0026E Adaptive Learning Solutions, Central Book Supply, Lampara Publishing House, Megatexts Phil., Milflores Publishing, Rex Education, Scholastic Philippines, and the Vibal Group.

Readers interested in pop culture, comics, and contemporary fiction can explore collections from Comic Odyssey, Komiket Studios, Precious Pages, Psicom Publishing, and Summit Publishing. Spiritual and inspirational titles are represented by Bayard Assumption Media Foundation, Claretian Communications Foundation, OMF Literature, Paulines, and St Pauls.

The international literary scene and specialty and heritage publications are represented by Alkem \u0026 Penguin Random House SEA, Cengage Learning Asia Pte Ltd., the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

The program also includes book signings featuring Philippine literature National Artists Virgilio Almario and Ricky Lee.

Alongside the main fair, the School World segment gives educators, academic leaders, and students access to educational technologies, learning materials, and modern teaching tools. As part of National Teachers Month, teachers can enter the fair for free by presenting a valid school ID at the counter. The Metrobank Foundation is also hosting activities for teachers at its booth throughout the event.

Ms. Capistrano said young adult literature has expanded to include subgenres such as Boys’ Love and Girls’ Love. She attributed part of the popularity among younger readers to Wattpad reading culture.

“MIBF is really open to all kinds of readers,” she told BusinessWorld. The fair has become sufficiently popular that pages now arrange “book fair pasabuy,” or purchases made on behalf of other people. As a result, some authors limit purchases to two books per person.

Novels, comics, and textbooks remain among the products visitors seek, but the fair also offers creative, educational, and lifestyle merchandise. The second floor includes stationery, journals, art supplies, and personalized stationery.

“Our goal is for the book fair to be a catalyst and a platform of bringing readers and publishers together,” Ms. Capistrano said, “to make the reading experience propagate year after year.”

Events through Sept. 13

On Sept. 11, Adarna House will present “Alamin, Alamin!: Masayang Pag-aaral ng Araling Panlipunan!” with Teacher Ani Almario from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Meeting Rooms 4 and 5. Veteran journalist Howie Severino will hold a meet-and-greet hosted by the University of Santo Tomas from 4 to 5 p.m. in Function Room 1.

Komiket Studios will stage “Masaya Magbasa ng Komiks!,” a panel featuring artists Patti Ramos, Tristan Yuvienco, Vaughn Pinpin, Lucas Lacorte, and Carlorozy Clemente, at 4:30 p.m. in the stage area. Food historian Felice Prudente Sta. Maria will close the day with the launch of La Cocina Filipina with Southern Voices Printing Press at 5:15 p.m. on the 2/F Function Room 1 Stage.

On Sept. 12, Ben\u0026Ben members Miguel Benjamin G. Guico and Paolo Benjamin G. Guico will launch their book The Traveller Across Dimensions with 8Letters Bookstore \u0026 Publishing at 10 a.m.

The Royal Norwegian Embassy will host creator Malin Falch for a live conversation titled “MANGA from the NORTH” at 12:30 p.m. Penguin Random House SEA will follow with The Beatles in Manila, a discussion of rock history featuring author David Guerrero and veteran broadcaster Lourd de Veyra at 4:30 p.m. in Function Room 1.

On Sept. 13, Penguin Random House SEA will present “The Next Love Story” at 12:30 p.m. in Function Room 1, featuring authors Ines Bautista-Yao, Mica de Leon, Kyra Ysabel, and AK Tolentino.

At 1:45 p.m., Makiling Made Consumer Goods Trading will host a panel on adapting Filipino books across different mediums. Entertainment personality and manager Noel Ferrer will then launch his new book, Level Up, under Milflores Publishing at 3 p.m. on the 2/F Function Room 1 Stage.

The fair also includes competitions and awarding ceremonies, while major booths maintain event calendars of their own. Ms. Capistrano said the event now includes business-to-business activities, which were not part of the fair three years ago. These activities give the fair a role beyond retail by creating space for publishing discussions and rights exchanges alongside its public program.

“We have competitions. We have awarding ceremonies,” she said. “We even have B2B, which we didn’t have three years ago, and it brings us to an international level.”

This is the first year that the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Thai Book Fair have major booths at MIBF. Norway and Sweden also have booths.

“That means they believe in investing here. Coming here is an investment for them,” Ms. Capistrano said. “The rest have agents or scouts looking for items to sell and be sold, like an exchange of rights. We have tables for that, but they prefer to look around and scope.”

The refreshed MIBF website, www.manilabookfair.com, provides exhibitor lists, event schedules, and interactive venue maps. Admission is also available onsite: regular tickets cost P50, while students and senior citizens pay P35 upon presenting a valid ID. Tickets for MIBF 2026 are additionally available through the SM Tickets website for visitors who want to avoid long queues.

The Manila International Book Fair 2026 is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 13 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Source: BusinessWorld