Guadalajara Book Fair Hits Record Attendance in 2024

FIL 2024 set new records with 907,300 visitors, 2,769 publishers, and $6.1M sales, blending trade and festival vibes in a vibrant literary celebration!

on Dec 13, 2024

The Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) 2024 has set new milestones, drawing an impressive 907,300 attendees between November 30 and December 8 at the Guadalajara Expo. This figure surpassed last year’s 857,315 visitors and broke the previous record set in 2019 before the pandemic disrupted events across Mexico.

Marisol Schulz Manaut, FIL’s general director, shared with Publishers Weekly, “This year’s fair exceeded our expectations in every way.” Not only did visitor numbers soar, but the event also hosted 2,769 publishing companies - 294 more than in 2023 - and welcomed 18,100 industry professionals, an increase of 700 compared to last year.

University of Guadalajara Rector Ricardo Villanueva Lomelí noted to El Economista that FIL 2024 "broke all the records that the fair has," hinting at plans to expand beyond the Guadalajara Expo to satellite venues next year.

Since its inception in 1987 by former rector Raúl Padilla López, FIL atrracts publishers and executives from Latin America, Spain, and beyond, including countries like Norway, Taiwan, and the United States. The growing demand for Spanish-language content in the U.S. was evident, with 150 American librarians attending through the FIL’sFree Pass Program with the American Library Association.

The fair has also gained traction among film and television companies, offering a platform for translation, licensing, and film-rights deals. Carla Cumming Rivero, of Scenic Rights, explained that audiences “want stories told by Latin Americans, with cultural nuances and perspectives that only local creators can provide.”

A hub for aspiring illustrators and writers, FIL hosts affordable workshops, portfolio reviews, and events like the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, which debuted the Bologna Portfolio Prize this year to recognize emerging talent.

Accessible to the public with an entry fee of just 25 pesos (around $1.24), FIL draws countless book lovers eager to meet authors, buy books directly, and immerse themselves in literary culture. According to publishers, sales at the event increased by 35%, generating approximately 124 million pesos ($6.1 million), as told by organizers to La Jornada reported.

Editorial director Ethan Nosowsky of Graywolf Press remarked, “The FIL is unique in that it is a significant trade show, yes, but it is also a major book festival,” highlighting its inclusive and vibrant atmosphere.