From Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, MACBA fills up with books you will not find in any bookshop. ArtsLibris is back: the international artist’s book, photobook and self-publishing fair, now in its 17th edition, at the Convent dels Àngels in the Raval.
If you like art, photography, graphic design or simply beautiful books, it is one of Barcelona’s autumn culture plans. And it falls on the Castanyada and All Saints’ weekend, so you have three days to take your time.
ArtsLibris 2026 basics
When 30 and 31 October and 1 November · Where MACBA, Convent dels Àngels (Plaça dels Àngels, 1)
Who more than 110 Spanish and international publishers · Price free in previous editions, to be confirmed
Official website artslibris.cat
What is it? Barcelona’s leading fair for artist’s books, photobooks and self-publishing, with more than 110 publishers from Spain and abroad.
Why go? You can browse, buy and talk directly to the artists and publishers behind short-run books that rarely reach bookshops.
- When30 and 31 October and 1 November 2026
- WhereMACBA, Convent dels Àngels, Plaça dels Àngels, 1 (Raval)
- PriceFree in previous editions; check the official website
What ArtsLibris is and why it is worth going
An artist’s book is not a book about art: it is the artwork itself. It might be a photobook, a hand-stapled zine, a fold-out, a numbered edition or an object that barely looks like a book. For 17 editions now, ArtsLibris has brought all of it together in one place and makes it accessible to everyone, not just collectors.
What I like most about this fair is that the authors and publishers are at the stands themselves. You can ask how a book was made or why they chose that paper or binding, and many pieces are far more affordable than you might expect.
Who is taking part in 2026
According to the organisers, this year there are more than 110 Spanish and international publishers. Confirmed names include:
- International publishers: Actes Sud, Spector Books, Biel Books and Bartlebooth.
- Barcelona museums and institutions: MACBA itself, MNAC, Museu Picasso, CCCB and Fundació Joan Miró.
- Other institutions: Culturgest, TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary and the Residencia de Estudiantes.
It is a good chance to pick up catalogues and publications from the city’s museums that you usually only find in their shops.
Speakers’ Corner with more than 30 talks
Inside the fair there is a Speakers’ Corner, a space for conversation between authors, publishers and the public. This year it will host more than 30 presentations across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The programme has not been published yet, so check the ArtsLibris website a few days before to pick your talk.
The two awards at the fair
Two awards are presented at the fair:
- Eloi Gimeno Award for best photobook, now in its 5th edition, together with the Foto Colectania Foundation. The jury is Elisa Medde, Óscar Monzón and Laura Pelayo González.
- ArtsLibris Banc Sabadell Award: the selected editions join the Banc Sabadell Art Collection.
If you are into photobooks, keep an eye on the winners: they often set the tone for the year.
This year’s ArtsLibris editions
The fair also produces its own pieces. In 2026 there are gloves designed by artist Patricia Esquivias and cotton bags printed with El beso (1980) by Ouka Leele, one of the best-known photographs of Madrid’s movida. The kind of souvenir that actually makes sense to take home from a fair.
Opening hours and entry
As of today, according to the official website, the organisers have not published the 2026 opening hours or prices. In previous editions, entry has been free. I will update this as soon as they are out, but check artslibris.cat before you go.
Getting there: the Convent dels Àngels is on Plaça dels Àngels, next to MACBA. The easiest options are Universitat metro (L1 and L2) or Catalunya (L1 and L3), about a five-minute walk away.
How to make it a Raval plan
ArtsLibris sits on Plaça dels Àngels, a few streets from La Rambla, so it is easy to stretch the afternoon:
- More free art: there are free galleries close by. The route is in free art galleries in Barcelona, and for more museums without paying, see free museums in Barcelona.
- Film and a drink: the Filmoteca is a short walk from Plaça dels Àngels. I have the plan ready in the Raval route with the Filmoteca and Bar Marsella.
- If it rains: the fair is indoors, and there are more ideas in Barcelona when it rains. Visiting? Fit it into Barcelona in 3 days.
- Chestnuts and panellets: Saturday 31 is Castanyada night. Find where to buy them in the Castanyada in Barcelona.
And for the rest of the weekend, everything is in what to do in Barcelona in November.
Going to ArtsLibris? Show me which book you take home on Instagram @barcelonainspira.
Frequently asked questions
When is ArtsLibris Barcelona 2026
On 30 and 31 October and 1 November 2026, Friday to Sunday. Sunday 1 November is All Saints’ Day (Tots Sants), so the fair falls on the same weekend as the Castanyada.
Where is ArtsLibris held in Barcelona
At MACBA, in the Convent dels Àngels space at Plaça dels Àngels 1, in the Raval. It is the old Gothic church right next to the museum’s white building.
How much does ArtsLibris cost
In previous editions entry has been free. The organisers have not yet published the 2026 prices or opening hours, so check artslibris.cat before you go.
What can you see at ArtsLibris
More than 110 Spanish and international publishers showing artist’s books, photobooks, zines and small-run editions that rarely reach bookshops. There is also a Speakers’ Corner with more than 30 presentations, and the Eloi Gimeno Award for best photobook and the ArtsLibris Banc Sabadell Award are presented at the fair.
