The 27th edition of the UABC International Book Fair launched Wednesday, April 16, in Mexicali, kicking off a multi-city literary festival that will travel across Baja California through the end of April. The Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) opened the fair with a ceremony honoring Mexican author Sofía Segovia with the Trayectoria FIL UABC 2026 award.
Rector Enrique Palafox Maestre set an attendance goal of 200,000 visitors, which would match the fair’s all-time record. The event features 300 publishers and offers free admission for all ages.
Six Days of Events in Mexicali
In Mexicali, the fair runs April 16 through 21 on the esplanade of the UABC Vicerrectoría campus. Programming includes book presentations, concerts, workshops, and theater performances. Concerts begin nightly at 8:00 p.m. in the parking area of the Rubén Castro Bojórquez Sports Complex.
A separate stage called Cimarrones FIL, located at the Multiforo on UABC’s Unidad Universitaria I campus, will host live music, improv theater, and special broadcasts from UABC Radio. Book sales, artisan crafts, and food vendors will operate daily throughout the event.
Fair Expands to Tecate, Tijuana, and Ensenada
The fair is also running in Tecate from April 16 through 19. It then moves west the following week, with dates in both Tijuana and Ensenada from April 23 through 26. The staggered schedule allows the UABC to bring authors and programming to each of Baja California’s major cities.
Palafox Maestre described the book fair as part of the university’s mission in cultural outreach and scientific education. He called the event a way for the institution to give back to the communities it serves.
How to Find the Full Schedule
The complete program, including daily schedules and activity details, is available on the fair’s official website at filuabc.mx and through the Cultura UABC social media pages. All activities are free and open to the public.
The FIL UABC is considered one of Baja California’s largest annual cultural events, drawing readers, authors, and academics from across the region each spring.
This story was first reported by Zeta Tijuana and Siempre en la Noticia.