Everything You Need to Know About the Manila International Book Fair 2026

(SPOT.ph) September will be here sooner than you think, and all bookworms know what that means: it's finally Manila International Book Fair season!

ICYDK, this year’s Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) is happening on September 9 to 13 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned book fair goer, navigating the country’s biggest and longest-running book event can be overwhelming. But don’t fret, as we’ve put together a handy guide for a successful MIBF visit. There’s still plenty of time, but best prepare your shopping list, ready your wallets, and make room on your shelves as early as now. And of course, plan your visit ahead with everything you need to know about the Manila International Book Fair 2026.

As with the previous years, the Manila International Book Fair will occupy two floors of the SMX Convention Center from Wednesday, September 9 to Sunday, September 13. Bookworms can enter as early as 10 a.m. and stay until closing at 8 p.m.

While its lineup of local publishers and bookstores are the star of the show, the MIBF 2026 will also feature book printers, foreign publishers, embassies, art and craft suppliers, paper suppliers, artist groups, libraries, and more. These exhibitors will be offering big discounts and exclusive promotions as well, so don’t forget to drop by their booths.

Aside from filling your baskets with BookTok favorite reads, be on the lookout for select publishers who will be offering MIBF-exclusive bestsellers and new releases. You don’t want to miss this fair if you’re keen on filling your bookshelves with the latest and hard-to-find titles.

Need more reasons to make a mad dash to this event? MIBF also comes at an opportune time to do some early Christmas shopping for yourself and your loved ones. Seasoned MIBF goers know that there are plenty of options to gift your fellow bookworms, crafters, paper sniffers, and stationery lovers. Pro tip: make shopping as hassle-free as possible; keep some cash on hand in case of a weak signal for cashless payments at the venue. Expect long lines and big crowds as well, so bring extra patience, especially if you’re going on a weekend.

MIBF 2026 remains a massive affair, with two floors and over 165 exhibitors for visitors to explore. There are also dedicated areas and a spacious stage on the second floor for pocket events and activities throughout the book fair. Apart from books and other reading materials, you can also shop for craft supplies and educational aids from both local and international distributors.

Expect to find crowd-favorite exhibitors such as Fully Booked, Penguin Random House SEA, and National Bookstore for mainstream reads; Adarna House, Anvil Publishing, Vibal Group, Rex Education, Central Book Supply, and Phoenix Publishing House for Philippine titles, children’s books, and primary and secondary school text books; Filipiniana books from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University Press, University of Santo Tomas Press, University of the Philippines Press, and many more.

It’s also a good opportunity to explore other local and independent publishers, such as Summit Media, PSIcom Publishing, The Indie Publishers Collab PH, and Milflores Publishing. There are also lots in store for fans and collectors of komiks and graphic novels, as Komiket, Manix Abrera, Comic Odyssey, Kawangis, 19th Avenida Publishing House, and other comics publishers will also be there.

There will also be a bunch of booths dedicated to stationery and arts-and-crafts supplies. So, if you’re looking to restock your stationery stash, exhibitors such as Pilot Pens, Crown Supply Corporation, Paperone, and Veco Paper Corporation have you covered.

Finally, if you need to rehydrate or grab a quick bite in between rounds of booth hopping, you’ll find some food stalls and some tables and chairs on the second floor.

More than just an event for shopping for books and related goodies, the Manila International Book Fair also has a bunch of pocket events and activities lined up, making it an immersive peek into the book and publishing industry.

For attendees curious about the business side of publishing, the MIBF is a perfect opportunity to meet with like-minded folks and learn about the nitty-gritty of printing, advertising, and other aspects of book production. With representatives from top publishers and production supply companies present, it’s also a great opportunity to expand your network.

Readers who are looking forward to meeting the people behind their favorite books can also take note of book signings, book launches, talks, and workshops by authors and publishers.

Of course, MIBF continues to provide teachers and educators with opportunities to expand their expertise with talks and mini-lectures throughout the five-day fair.

• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Alaga in Action: An Ecosystem for Learner Resilience

  • Hosted by Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Rooms 4 to 6

• 10 a.m.: Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies

  • Ground Floor Lobby

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Seminar/Workshop

  • Hosted by Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 9

• 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Gintong Aklat Awards

  • Hosted by: Book Development Association of the Philippines

  • G/F Stage Area at Exhibit Hall 1

• 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Book Launch

  • Hosted by Don Bosco Press, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 4 & 5

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: PGLL Forum

  • Hosted by Central Books Supply, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 6

• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Book Launching and Talk by Atty. Joseph Noel Estrada

  • Hosted by Rex Book Store Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 6

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Book Launching/ Author Signing

  • Hosted by: St. Pauls

  • Stage Area at G/F Exhibit Hall 1

• 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Coursera

  • Hosted by C&E Publishing, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 6

• 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Focus AI: Filipiniana Open Collections for Users and Scholars in the Age of AI

  • Speaker: Lady Catherine R. De Leon

  • Hosted by Philippine Association of Academic/ Research Librarians, Inc. (PAARL)

  • 2/F Meeting Room 8

• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Decodable Comics for Fluency

  • Hosted by Lampara Publishing House, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 9

• 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Book Launch: Career or Travel, Why Not Both? by Kach Medina Umandap

  • Hosted by Penguin Random House SEA

  • G/F Stage Area Hall 1

• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The Micro-credential Council: First Annual Assembly and Conference

  • Hosted by Rex Book Store, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 7 and 8

• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Brille Petit 2nd Storytelling Competition

  • Hosted: Brilliant Creations Publishing Inc.

  • 2/F Stage Area Function Room 1

• 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Alamin, Alamin!: Masayang Pag-aaral ng Araling Panlipunan!

  • Speaker: Teacher Ani Almario

  • Hosted by Adarna House, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 4 and 5

• 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Book Launching of Atty. Rogelio Dascil, ESQ., MNSA

  • Hosted by Rex Book Store Inc.

  • G/F Stage Area Exhibit Hall 1

• 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Arts in Education: Comics and Creativity with Manix and Aria

  • Hosted by: Manila International Book Fair

  • Stage Area at 2/F Function Room 1

• 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.: PEPA Forum

  • Hosted by Philippine Educational Publishing Association (PEPA)

  • 2/F Meeting Room 4 to 6

• 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: PH Wattpad Live: Stories Unfiltered

  • Hosted by: Wattpad

  • G/F Exhibit Hall 1

• 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.: STI Muñoz Psychology & Multimedia Students- Book and Product Launching

  • Hosted by Lolakwentosera Book Publishing

  • G/F Stage Area Exhibit Hall 1

• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Meet & Greet the Authors: A Book Launch

  • Speaker: Howie Severino

  • Hosted by the University of Santo Tomas

  • 2/F Stage Area Function Room 1

• 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Masaya Magbasa ng Komiks!

  • Speakers: Patti Ramos, Tristan Yuvienco, Vaughn Pinpin, Lucas Lacorte, and Carlorozy Clemente

  • Hosted by: Komiket Studios Inc.

  • G/F Stage Area Exhibit Hall 1

• 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.: La Cocina Filipina Book Launch

  • Speaker: Emanuel Gabriel B. La Vina; Translator: Felice Prudente Sta. Maria

  • Hosted by Southern Voices Printing Press

  • 2/F Stage Area Function Room 1

• 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Summit Books Book Signing

  • Hosted by Summit Publishing Company, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 4

• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The Micro-credential Council: First Annual Assembly and Conference

  • Hosted by Rex Book Store, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 7 and 8

• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.: The Traveller Across Dimensions Book Launch with Miguel Benjamin G. Guico and Paolo Benjamin G. Guico

  • Hosted by 8Letters Bookstore & Publishing

  • G/F Stage Area Exhibit Hall 1

• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Book Launching

  • Speaker: Miriam S. Dela Cruz

  • Hosted by Philippine Christian Literature, Inc (PCBS)

  • 2/F Meeting Room 5

• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Storytelling Session with Neil Omar B. Gamos: Ang Mga Lambana ng Mindanao at Nalasang Latian

  • Hosted by The Inteligente Publishing, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 6

• 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Pages of Philippine Pride: Celebrating Philippine Festivals, Heroes, and Wildlife

  • Hosted by Birds in Focus, Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 9

• 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Summit Books Book Signing

  • Hosted by Summit Publishing Co. Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 4

• 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.: MANGA from the NORTH conversation and activities with Malin Falch

  • Hosted by Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila

  • G/F Stage Area Exhibit Hall 1

• 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Emotional C.P.R.: A Creative Journey Toward Emotional Well-Being

  • Hosted by Primetrade Asia, Inc, and Teacher Maricar

  • 2/F Meeting Room 5 and 6

• 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.: LEARN Forward: Strengthening Early Literacy Through Empowered Child Development Teachers

  • Hosted by Rex Book Store Inc

  • 2/F Meeting Room 9

• 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: JSP Authors Poetry Performance with Jerico Silvers, Sophia and Regina Amit

  • Hosted by J. Silvers Publishing

  • 2/F Stage Area Function Room 1

• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Batang Lampara, Batang Kwentista

  • Hosted by Lampara Publishing House, Inc

  • G/F Stage Area Exhibit Hall 1

• 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.: STI Muñoz Psychology & Multimedia Students- Book and Product Launching

  • Hosted by Lolakwentosera Book Publishing

  • G/F Stage Area Exhibit Hall 1

• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Book Launching/ Author Signing

  • Hosted by Milflores Publishing Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 9

• 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Wibert Rosss Special

  • Hosted by8Letters Bookstore & Publishing

  • 2/F Meeting Room 9

• 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: The Beathles in Manila (Talk and Book Signing)

  • Speaker: David Guerrero (Author) and Lourd de Veyra (Moderator)

  • 2/F Stage Area Function Room 1

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: PH Wattpad Live: Stories Unfiltered

  • Hosted by Wattpad

  • 2/F Meeting Room 8 and 9

• 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.: The Next Love Story (Romance Panel)

  • Speakers: Ines Bautista-Yao, Mica de Leon, Kyra Ysabel, AK Tolentino

  • Hosted by Penguin Random House SEA

  • 2/F Stage Area Function Room 1

• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Book Signing

  • Hosted by PSICOM Publishing Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 6

• 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.: PANEL: Adapting Filipino Books Across Medium[s] (sic)

  • Hosted by Makiling Made Consumer Goods Trading (a.k.a. Raygun)

  • 2/F Stage Area Function Room 1

• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: An Afternoon with PPC Authors (Meet & Greet and Book Signing)

  • Hosted by Precious Pages Corp.

  • G/F Stage Area Exhibit Hall 1

• 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Noel Ferrere's Book Launch

  • Hosted by Milflores Publishing Inc.

  • 2/F Stage Area Function Room 1

• 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.: Storybook Fun Fest (Where Stories Come Alive and Young Imaginations Soar)

  • Speaker: Central Books' Children's Book Authors

  • Hosted by: Central Books Supply Inc.

  • G/F Stage Area Exhibit Hall 1

• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Seminar/Workshop

  • Hosted by: Central Books Supply Inc.

  • 2/F Meeting Room 4 & 5

This year, entrance to the Manila International Book fair costs P50 for General Admission and P35 for students, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and senior citizens with valid IDs. Tickets are now available through SM Tickets.

However, there are also ways to score free passes from select exhibitors. Note that most of these free passes are valid for one person only, so bring as many as you need. And if they're vouchers, make sure to print them out before heading to the SMX Convention Center:

Enter MIBF for free with Fully Booked. Starting August 5, grab a bookmark invite at any Fully Booked branch in Luzon. Each bookmark admits two people to MIBF. Note: This bookmark is only available while supplies last. Just approach Fully Book's customer service of cashier to claim yours.

To celebrate their newest pen drop—The Pilot Iro-utsushi Dip Pen—Pilot Pens is giving away free passes to the MIBF on their website. Download and print the voucher and bring it when you visit.

Make sure to bring enough printed copies for the entire gang, as each voucher only admits one person.

Grab as many MIBF 2026 tickets as you need from select branches of the Philippine Christian Book Store (PCBS) across Luzon, no purchase needed. If there's no PCBS branch near you, you can also download and print a voucher from their drive.

Central Books and all their other brands such as Picture Books and Publish On Demand will be at the Manila International Book Fair this year. To make sure you get to visit their booths, they're giving away free tickets online. As with other free vouchers, make sure to bring a printed copy on the day of.

These are just some of the publishers and exhibitors offering free passes to the biggest book event of the year. We're pretty sure more brands will be offering up passes soon. Don't worry, Spotters, we'll keep an eye out for you.

For more information, visit Manila International Book Fair’s Facebook page and website.