World Book Day

19 Apr, 2026

23rd of April: Celebrating books throughout the world.

Happy World Book Day, everyone!

Some days ago I was looking at the calendar and, while browsing through it, I realized World Book Day was approaching. I confess that I didn't remember the date by heart, for I've never celebrated this day before.
Nevertheless, now is different, since I've decided to expand on my reading interests and I couldn't feel more excited to explore different topics and share them in this little blog that I cherish as my precious!

So, let's get to know more about this universal day that offers people the opportunity to gather and celebrate the joy of reading through activities like book fairs, public readings, character parades and much more!

Historical context

The first World Book Day was celebrated on 23 April 1995, and continues to this day. However, the original idea was conceived in 1922 by Vicente Clavel, the director of Cervantes publishing house in Barcelona, as a way to honor the author Miguel de Cervantes and boost book sales. It was first celebrated in Spain on 7 October 1926, Cervantes' birthday, before being moved to his death date, 23 April, in 1930.
Later on, in 1995, UNESCO decided that the World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on 23 April, as the date is also the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, alongside the birth and death of other significant authors.¹

Around the globe

This day, being the source of diverse actions and projects, holds a great value in many places: in over 100 countries around the world (minus 4 that use different dates), people celebrate World Book Day to commemorate books and reading. Writers, readers, booksellers, libraries, institutions, and teachers celebrate the day, appreciating the importance of literature.

Additionally, since 2001, UNESCO chooses a City as "World Book Capital": every year, a city is selected to promote books and reading, hosting different projects, with the World Book Day being, of course, part of it. (You can learn more about all countries' participation here.)

Outside of this program, each place has their additional activities for this day, arising even from long established traditions, as it is the case in Spain:

In Catalonia, World Book Day shares the date with their patron saint, Sant Jordi (Saint George's Day). During this festival, literature and romance unite, creating a unique way of traditional celebration: in the past it was the custom for couples to exchange gifts—a book and a rose. Of course, the tradition having expanded through time, provides now room for everyone to offer those to their beloved ones, without limiting the gift exchange just between lovers.

But why a rose?

Well, according to the legend, there was once a dragon that terrorized the inhabitants of a town in Catalonia, destabilizing the populace's harmony and eating their animals. To calm the dragon's rage, people decided to proceed to a daily sacrifice, drawing lots to see who would be next. Eventually, the king's daughter was picked, but when the dragon was about to devour her, a brave knight, Sant Jordi, saved her. When he penetrated the dragon with his sword, a bush of red roses sprang out.

As previously mentioned, World Book Day reaches a vast audience of all ages in other countries too. Different events take place such as book exhibitions, author meet-ups, and literary workshops. Reading sessions and debates are organized by schools and colleges, providing a great opportunity for the younger ones to engage in diverse conversations and expand their horizons. National libraries organize gatherings and meetings, while street festivals invite passersby to honor this day.

World Book Day as a chance for connection

One exciting thing about official world days is that, no matter where one lives, one can celebrate the day, having the possibility to feel connected with people from the other side of the globe, for it's a shareable celebration. It's nice from time to time to partake in common ground events, especially when they deal with personal interests, passions or hobbies.

Wherever you are in the world, I invite you to take a moment to appreciate the power of literature, but remember: every day is a celebration, when reading is part of one's daily life and books are one's loyal companions!

Note: No AI was used to write this post. Only my partner's valuable help to spot little mistakes.