France will headline Morocco’s 2026 International Book and Publishing Fair in Rabat as guest of honour, bringing a program of more than 120 events and a line up of prominent writers including Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux, in what amounts to a cultural return invitation after Morocco was honoured at the Paris Book Festival in 2025.
The French pavilion, coordinated by Institut Français du Maroc, is set to host author talks, book signings, debates and workshops aimed at broad audiences, alongside professional meetings linking publishers, writers and translators from both countries. Organisers say the programme is designed as an open space blending public engagement with industry exchange.
Beyond Ernaux, the delegation includes writers such as Morgan Moncomble and Timothée de Fombelle, alongside about 15 other authors who will also take part in events across Morocco through the French cultural network, extending the fair beyond Rabat.
The guest programme coincides with Rabat’s designation as World Book Capital by UNESCO, placing the fair within a broader push to position the city as a regional hub for publishing and reading culture.
Organisers said the French programme would also include literary prizes such as the Goncourt Choice of Morocco and the First Novel Festival of Chambéry, as well as a comics competition, reinforcing ties between the two literary ecosystems.
In parallel, an “off site” programme will extend activities into public spaces across Rabat, with film screenings, music and contemporary artistic performances aimed at widening access beyond traditional fair audiences.
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