The Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) , considered the most important Spanish-language publishing event in the world, has begun a new edition marked by a significant symbolic gesture: the official awarding of the "Made in Mexico" seal by the federal government. This distinction, traditionally associated with products and manufactured goods, is being granted for the first time to a long-standing cultural process.
The award comes at the opening of the 39th edition of the fair, held at Expo Guadalajara over nine days, with Barcelona as the guest city of honor . The presence of the Catalan capital and a large European delegation strengthens ties between the Mexican book industry and the publishing markets of Spain and the rest of the continent.
A seal that recognizes a benchmark cultural process
During the opening ceremony, Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard presented the "Made in Mexico" certificate to the fair's organizers. The head of the economic portfolio emphasized that this recognition is directed at a process, not a specific product , a first within the official program of the certification.
Ebrard noted that the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), founded in 1987 and organized by the University of Guadalajara , has built over nearly four decades a meeting place for publishers, authors, agents, and readers that transcends national borders. The seal, he emphasized, seeks to highlight the sustained effort, perseverance, and excellence that have made the fair a central platform for Spanish-language books.
The certification was received on behalf of the university by Rector Karla Planter , who highlighted the work of the teams that, year after year, manage the logistics and programming of an event that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. The awarding of the certificate is part of an official strategy to strengthen the identity of cultural projects that contribute to Mexico's international profile.
The “Made in Mexico” program, a joint initiative of the government and the business sector, had thus far focused on promoting Mexican goods and services in a global context marked by trade tensions. The inclusion of the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) on the list of certified initiatives points to a broader vision, where culture and the publishing industry are also considered strategic assets.
A new approach by the federal government to the fair
Marcelo Ebrard's presence in Guadalajara has also marked a shift in the relationship between the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) and the federal government. In recent years, during the previous administration, the participation of central government representatives in the fair was minimal, amidst public criticism of the event.
On this occasion, the secretary attended on behalf of President Claudia Sheinbaum , who took office in October 2024. According to Ebrard, the president sent a message of explicit recognition of the fair's role as a showcase for the country's talent, creativity, and cultural diversity.
The certificate presentation also served as a political gesture aimed at normalizing and strengthening institutional ties with the FIL. From the stage, authorities emphasized that the fair is a pluralistic space where very different voices, ideas, and positions coexist, and that this diversity is precisely one of its greatest strengths.
On behalf of the organization, the fair's president, José Trinidad Padilla López , emphasized the importance of maintaining strong relationships with public institutions and the private sector to ensure the project's continuity. The general director, Marisol Schulz , acknowledged Raúl Padilla López's legacy in consolidating the FIL and noted that this new recognition comes at a time when the fair continues to expand its international reach.
Barcelona, guest of honor and bridge to Europe
The city of Barcelona is participating this year as guest of honor, reinforcing the Ibero-American and European dimension of the fair. The Catalan delegation has arrived in Guadalajara with a program that combines literature, the publishing industry, thought, and artistic creation , paying special attention to historical and cultural ties with Mexico and the rest of Latin America.
At the opening ceremony , Barcelona's mayor, Jaume Collboni , presented the core program, which includes author presentations, panel discussions, professional activities, and meetings with publishers from both sides of the Atlantic. One of the most talked-about events will be a day dedicated to the Sant Jordi festival , scheduled for December 6th, adapted to the Mexican context while maintaining its character as a celebration of books and roses.
For the Spanish and European publishing industry, the FIL represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen its presence in the Latin American market , both in the traditional bookstore channel and in emerging areas such as digital books and audiobooks . Publishing houses of varying sizes, from large groups to independent publishers, participate in the professional program.
Barcelona's agenda also focuses on bibliodiversity , with spaces dedicated to the languages and cultures present in the city, as well as issues related to sustainability, new forms of reading, and the role of public libraries. These lines of work connect with debates that also permeate the European book sector, where the challenges of digitization and changes in reading habits are analyzed.
Authors, awards and a large-scale program
The 2025 edition of the FIL (Guadalajara International Book Fair) brings together more than 800 authors from different continents. Among the literary figures is the Franco-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf , who has received the FIL Prize for Literature in Romance Languages . He will participate in several activities, including dialogues with readers and panels on memory, identity, and migration.
The European presence is strengthened by names such as Cuban author Leonardo Padura , widely published in Spain, and Spanish writer Rosa Montero , with a solid track record in the Spanish-speaking market. Alongside them, Uruguayan author Fernanda Trías and Salvadoran author Horacio Castellanos Moya complete a program that combines established voices with emerging authors.
The program extends beyond narrative and poetry to incorporate diverse disciplines and perspectives . Among the guests is Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú , who participates in discussions on human rights and Indigenous peoples. From the scientific field, 2020 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Venki Ramakrishnan takes part in activities related to research, outreach, and open science.
The program also includes the participation of American actor Richard Gere , focusing on themes of compassion and the environment, and Mexican actor Gael García Bernal , who addresses the rise of audiobooks and the intersections between the audiovisual and publishing industries. These names, from different fields, help to attract diverse audiences and broaden the debate on culture in a wider sense.
In total, the organizers have planned around 635 book presentations , in addition to professional meetings, readings, workshops, and activities for children and young people. Attendance is expected to reach approximately 900.000 visitors , a figure that confirms the FIL's position as one of the major cultural events in Latin America.
With the "Made in Mexico" seal of approval, the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) reinforces its role as a cultural emblem of the country and, at the same time, strengthens ties with the publishing community in Spain and Europe . The recognition of the process that sustains the fair, the selection of Barcelona as guest of honor, and the breadth of its literary and professional program position it, once again, as a key meeting point for those who work with, read, and think about books in Spanish.
