From October 8th to 12th, Vitoria-Gasteiz was the capital of reading, with La Florida as its central hub. Over five days, the fair hosted nearly 30 writers and attracted 17,600 participants, while local bookstores sold over 3,700 copies from their 8 stands.
The Councilor for Culture and Education, Sonia Díaz de Corcuera, described the outcome as "widely positive" and "shared with the local bookstores whose participation was essential, and with the public." She noted, "We saw long queues for book signings, over 100 families participated in the scavenger hunt, and people were constantly browsing and buying at the stalls. We set ourselves the challenge of bringing this Fair back to Vitoria-Gasteiz, we bet on this project, and today we can say it has been a success and it's here to stay."
A survey conducted among participating bookstores at the fair's end also yielded a favorable assessment, with participation figures "higher than expected" and "excellent" public attendance. They described the location as "good-excellent, a welcoming space that fosters encounters and encourages people to stay." The impact of signings and presentations was also rated "excellent." The program was characterized as "very varied, attractive, and complete." The best-selling books were Bajamar by Ibon Martín, followed by La chica del lago by Mikel Santiago, and thirdly, Los huérfanos by Carmen Mola.
The attending public also proved to be an essential pillar, offering a "very positive" general assessment, particularly highlighting the number and caliber of the authors. Many visitors who were in the city for the long weekend were drawn to meet their favorite writers and get their books signed.
Councilor Díaz de Corcuera explained that the Department of Culture aimed to "support local bookstores, foster the reading habit, and boost local literary creation," a triple objective that, "thanks to excellent collaborative work, we have achieved," she stated.
On Thursday, October 8th, the opening day, despite the rain, over 50 people attended the reading by Karmele Jaio and the dance performance by Proyecto Larrua, as well as the opening of the stands. Subsequently, more than 70 people participated in the presentation and signing by Vitoria-Gasteiz writer Samuel Vernal.
Friday, October 9th, featured a storytelling session by Josune de Sorlasean that gathered over 60 people, the presentation and signing of Ibon Abad's trilogy for more than 50 attendees, and a visit from Katixa Agirre, whose presentation and signing attracted over 40 people.
The following day, Saturday, October 10th, Julia Santos and Patricia Pérez hosted a puppet workshop and book signing with over 40 participants. At midday, Carmen Mola held an interview and signing that drew more than 300 people. On the same day, Carmen Bravo led a "easy reading" workshop for 15 people, and Andrea Longarela attracted over 350 teenagers.
On Sunday, October 11th, Eider Eibar's live drawing workshop had 20 participants. Ibon Martín attracted over 310 people, from children with his children's offerings to adults interested in his novel Bajamar. The day's program also included Jon Azkueta and Paula Gallego, who drew about 80 twenty-somethings with their book Un deseo por Navidad, and the event Siete poetas y una chistera, which featured a recital enjoyed by over 60 attendees.
The fair concluded on Monday, October 12th, with Estíbaliz de la Peña, Argi Moreira, and Bibi Loughty, who explained their creative process to nearly thirty people accompanied by 4 musicians. The final closing was by Mikel Santiago, the author who gathered the most attendees at his interview and book signing, with nearly 400 people.
