If you love reading, this is for you: the famous River of Books is back, where you can take home books completely free of charge in Guadalajara.
This is an initiative by the Juan José Arreola Jalisco State Public Library, as part of the World Book Day celebrations.
They’ll lay out hundreds of books on the ground so you can pick out and take home the ones that interest you. Add it to your April plans.
When will the 2026 River of Books take place?
The event is on April 23, 2026, at the Pasillo Cultural, with several “waves” throughout the day:
🕚 11:00 a.m.
🕐 1:00 p.m.
🕒 3:00 p.m.
🕔 5:00 p.m.
You’ll find titles from different genres, so it’s worth arriving early to snag the best ones.
Other World Book Day activities 📖
In addition to the River of Books, there will be several free activities that same day:
📖 Reading Aloud
Join the marathon and win a copy of Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo
🕥 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
🛍️ Workshop with Carlos Fuentes Bookstore
🕚 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
🧴 Perfume Museum
🕚 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
✂️ Western Collage League
🕔 5:00 p.m.
🎨 Activities from April 20 to 24
The celebration spans several days with workshops, films, and activities for all ages:
🎨 Creating art objects from discarded books
📅 April 20–24
🕕 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
A creative workshop that transforms books into new works of art
(Limited space / ages 15 and up)
🎬 Special Book Day Movie Night
📅 Thursday, April 23
- The Neverending Story – 🕙 10:00 a.m.
- Donnie Darko – 🕛 12:00 p.m.
- Misery – 🕑 2:00 p.m.
📅 Friday, April 24
- Matilda (inclusive screening) – 🕚 11:00 a.m.
🔤 Braille for Everyone
📅 Thursday, April 23
🕘 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Workshop to learn the basics of the Braille system
👾 Workshop: “Booky, the Book-Eating Monster”
📅 Thursday, April 23
🕥 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Family activity to create characters using recycled materials
For more information, check their social media.
