Vice President Raquel Peña and Minister of Culture Roberto Angel Salcedo officially opened the first Cibao Regional Book and Culture Fair 2026 on Sunday, 19 April 2026. Hosted in the gardens of the Gran Teatro del Cibao, the event serves as a cultural nexus for the 14 provinces of the northern region, aiming to strengthen historical ties and showcase the literary and artistic wealth of the central Cibao Valley region.
The fair, which runs from 19 April to 26 April 2026, was proposed by Santiago Senator Daniel Rivera to the Vice President, a Santiago native.
The inaugural regional edition is dedicated to the memory of former President and intellectual Ulises Francisco Espaillat, marking the 150th anniversary of his administration.
A commitment to cultural decentralization
During the opening ceremony held at the Restauración Hall of the Grand Theater, Vice President Peña emphasized that under President Luis Abinader’s leadership, education and culture have been placed at the center of the national agenda. She described the fair as an “investment in democracy, freedom, and the future.”
Culture Minister Roberto Angel Salcedo highlighted the event as a tangible result of “cultural decentralization.” He noted that the fair seeks to expand access to the arts and provide visibility to existing cultural processes within local communities. “Here, where the land bears fruit, ideas also flourish,” Salcedo remarked, referring to the Cibao’s reputation as the nation’s agricultural and intellectual heartland.
Local authorities, including Santiago Governor Rosa Santos and Mayor Ulises Rodríguez, echoed these sentiments. Santos categorized the fair as a historic milestone for the region’s economic and cultural development, while Rodríguez noted that the event fosters the critical thinking necessary for a society to shape its own future.
Exhibition highlights and layout
The 2026 fair features 11 specialized pavilions and thematic spaces designed to promote reading and the creative industries:
• Regional pavilion: The centerpiece of the fair, featuring 14 distinct modules—one for each northern province—displaying their unique historical and artistic heritage.
• Specialized pavilions: Dedicated spaces for Comics, Children’s Literature, Gastronomy, and Traditional Crafts.
• Thematic areas: Located within the theater complex, these include the “Identity and Citizenship” pavilion, the “Pavilion of Good Words,” a dedicated tribute to Ulises Francisco Espaillat, and the “Oasis Lúdico” (Playful Oasis).
Read more in Spanish:
Hoy
El Caribe
20 April 2026