São Paulo Book Biennial draws record 760,000 visitors
760,000 people passed through the gates of the 28th São Paulo International Book Biennial, making it the best-attended edition in the fair's history. The 10-day event in São Paulo closed on September 13, 2026. The figures were reported by Publishing Perspectives.
A biennial is a fair held every two years. The last São Paulo edition, in 2024, drew 722,000 visitors. This year's growth was physical as well as numerical, with the fair spreading across 87,000 square metres, 28% more space than in 2024.
It opened on September 4 and sold out on five of its nine days. Queues formed early. Tickets went fast. The scale put pressure on halls, stands and signing lines alike.
More than half of the 760,000 visitors entered free of charge through access initiatives. A voucher scheme worth R$20 million in Brazilian reais supported buying as well as entry, benefiting more than 52,000 students and 154,000 municipal public-sector employees. The vouchers could be exchanged for books at the fair.
The fair hosted 269 exhibitors, meaning the publishers, distributors and booksellers who hire stands to display and sell books. Together they offered 3.65 million books. About 800 authors appeared in talks, debates and signings, and 91% of them were Brazilian.
Spain took the spotlight as Guest of Honour, meaning a featured country with extra stage space and its own programme. It presented the Confluencias project, curated by writer Marta Sanz. Curation here means selecting the authors and themes to represent the country.
Sales rose with the crowds. Average daily revenue per exhibitor was up 57% on the previous São Paulo edition, according to an exhibitor survey. Brazilian publisher Rocco said its revenue was 121% higher than at São Paulo in 2024 and 37% above its takings at the most recent Rio Book Biennial. Publishers Sextante and Arqueiro reported an 82% revenue rise on the last São Paulo edition.
The Câmara Brasileira do Livro, the Brazilian book chamber behind the fair, also reported record attendance and sales in its own review on September 13, titled '28ª Bienal do Livro de São Paulo bate recorde de público e vendas', according to the Câmara Brasileira do Livro.
What makes this stand out is the combination. Big crowds. Strong till receipts. And free entry and book vouchers doing much of the work to bring first-time visitors through the door.
