Rabat, the capital of Morocco, has been designated UNESCO's World Book Capital for 2026, taking over from Rio de Janeiro. This year-long celebration, starting on 23 April 2026, aims to promote literacy, especially among underserved communities, women, and children, while bolstering the local publishing industry. The programme integrates reading into everyday spaces like parks and cafes, reflecting Rabat's vibrant literary scene as a cultural crossroads.
For European travellers, Rabat offers a unique blend of North African and European influences, making it an accessible and enriching destination. The city's literary offerings are particularly compelling for bibliophiles, with events and venues that highlight both local and international literature.
Key Literary Attractions in Rabat
International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL)
From 30 April to 10 May 2026, the SIEL book fair will be a highlight, featuring over 700 exhibitors from around 50 countries. This year, it coincides with the World Book Capital designation, with France as the guest of honour, including Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux. The fair aims to strengthen partnerships between French and Moroccan writers, publishers, and translators, and will celebrate Ibn Battuta and the Moroccan diaspora. Visitors can enjoy seminars, panels, poetry readings, and discussions on Arabic children's literature.
Medina's Bookstalls
Explore the old city's Medina and Rue des Consuls for traditional bookshops, Arabic calligraphy shops, and antique stalls. A must-visit is Mohammed Aziz's legendary shop, a "living library" with thousands of secondhand books. Aziz, one of Rabat's oldest booksellers, has read over 4,000 books in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish, and is happy to offer recommendations. This is a great place to find rare gems and meet like-minded locals and tourists.
Museum Mohammed VI of Modern Art
This museum offers a visual "storyboard" of 20th-century Moroccan history through art, from colonial-era realism to modern abstraction and contemporary social commentary. It includes exhibitions on identity, modernity, and transition, with quiet study spaces and a bookshop specializing in museum collections and modern art.
National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco
Holding over 1,000 years of Moroccan, Arabic, and Islamic heritage, the library boasts more than 200,000 titles and 80,000 rare documents and manuscripts. It includes rare books, photographs, and maps, as well as extensive digital archives and accessibility features for the visually impaired. Over half of its contents are digitized as part of the "Digital 2030" strategy. The library also has a bookstore, cafeteria, and prayer room.
Cultural Cafes
For a relaxed experience, visit the Andalusian Gardens of the Kasbah des Oudayas and read at cultural cafes like Cafe des Oudayas (formerly Cafe Maure). With Zellige-tiled benches and views over the Bou Regreg River, it offers an authentic setting for enjoying mint tea, fresh orange juice, and pastries like cornes de gazelle while immersing in a book.
Rabat's designation as World Book Capital underscores its role as a literary hub, and for European readers, it provides a gateway to explore Moroccan and Arabic literature in a city that bridges continents. For those interested in similar cultural initiatives, the EU's ALMA Programme offers NEETs a path forward through work abroad, while Évora's 'Vagar' Philosophy to Guide Its 2027 European Capital of Culture Programme highlights other European cultural capitals.
