Each year, on April 23rd, UNESCO celebrates World Book and Copyright Day to highlight the power of books to bring together generations and cultures.
World Book and Copyright Day is not just a celebration of literature – it’s a reminder that with every new page we turn, we discover more about ourselves, and then about new people, cultures, and ideas.
This date carries deep symbolic meaning in world literature, as it marks the death of several renowned writers, including William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. Their legacy endures, because books – unlike borders – do not fade with time.
As part of the celebration, UNESCO and international organizations representing the three key sectors of the book industry – publishers, booksellers, and libraries – designate a World Book Capital each year. This title goes to a city that takes on the responsibility of promoting reading and literacy.
In 2025, that honor goes to Rio de Janeiro, which is tasked with bringing to life the idea that books can contribute to social progress – through literacy, education, and the eradication of poverty.
Rio joins a line of 25 cities, beginning with Madrid in 2001.
On World Book Day, we remind ourselves: reading is not just an escape – it’s a revolution in paperback.