• A new format will support publishing projects through three approaches: commercial, author-driven, and institutional.
• Applications are open from May 29 to June 19, 2026.
• Qatar will be the guest country of the 2026 edition, offering new opportunities for cultural exchange.
San José, May 29, 2026. With a renewed proposal, new participation opportunities, and a vision focused on strengthening the book value chain, the National Reading Festival begins a new chapter and becomes the Costa Rica Reading Festival, a platform designed to promote national literary talent and address the current challenges facing the publishing sector.
Now in its fifth year, this initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCJ) introduces a new identity and a more dynamic format aimed at encouraging greater participation from writers, publishers, bookstores, institutions, and other stakeholders involved in promoting books and reading.
The call for applications will remain open from May 29 to June 19, 2026. Participation guidelines are available on the MCJ website: https://www.mcj.go.cr/cpac. Both the application process and the allocation of exhibition spaces for selected proposals will be completely free of charge.
“The Costa Rica Reading Festival opens a new chapter for our literary sector. This renewal seeks to transform this event into a stronger, more participatory, and sustainable platform capable of showcasing national talent, strengthening the cultural economy, and creating new opportunities for everyone involved in the book value chain. From the Ministry of Culture and Youth, we reaffirm our commitment to bringing reading closer to more people and providing better spaces for our creators,” stated Jorge Rodríguez Vives, Minister of Culture and Youth.
A New Format for New Experiences
One of the most significant changes in the 2026 Costa Rica Reading Festival will be the implementation of an exhibition circuit organized around three major categories: commercial showcase, author showcase, and institutional showcase. This structure replaces the traditional categories and will allow for broader representation of the diversity of Costa Rica’s literary ecosystem.
As part of this new phase, the 2026 edition will also feature Qatar as the guest country, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and introducing the public to new international literary expressions.
The selection process will incorporate updated technical evaluation methodologies detailed in the participation guidelines. This renewal is the result of a review and feedback process involving participants from previous editions, applicants, and selection committees, with the goal of creating a more representative experience aligned with the sector’s current needs.
Funding for selected proposals and the overall execution of the Costa Rica Reading Festival will be provided through public funds allocated by the MCJ to promote and strengthen cultural rights, as well as support the national literary sector.
Through this transformation, the festival maintains its mission of showcasing Costa Rican publishing production, promoting related services, and creating a meeting space between books and the public, with special emphasis on younger generations and a cultural program designed for the entire family.
