Santa Cruz de Tenerife Book Fair Concludes After Boosting Local Publishing Industry

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Book Fair wraps up this Monday, May 4, having firmly established itself as a key driver for the Canary Islands' publishing industry. More than just a place to browse books, the event has become a vital platform for launching new talent and connecting creators with the professional market.

A major highlight of this year’s fair was the "New Authors & Editors Meeting" held on Sunday. Organized by the Literary School with support from the Cabildo of Tenerife, the event successfully connected emerging writers with local publishers. As a result, eight manuscripts were picked up by imprints including Baile del Sol, Le Canarien, Editorial La Palma, and Ediciones Idea. José Carlos Acha, the Minister of Culture and Museums, noted that the local government plans to make these types of professional connections a permanent part of their strategy to support the island’s literary scene.

The final day of the fair turns its attention to history and local identity with the launch of Las Galletas (Plasson e Bartleboom, 2026), the debut novel by Óscar Liam. The presentation, moderated by journalist Eduardo García Rojas, takes place at 12:30 p.m. at the Alfonso García-Ramos Space. Liam’s book uses a grandmother’s stories to explore how southern Tenerife has changed over time, touching on themes like emigration, the shift toward tourism, and the evolution of traditional life.

This focus on using literature to preserve cultural memory is central to the Cabildo’s current reading strategy. The administration emphasizes that supporting authors goes beyond the writing process; it requires helping them gain visibility and reach readers through a stronger network of libraries and industry support.

After five days at García Sanabria Park, organizers are calling the fair a success. It has effectively served its dual purpose: acting as a welcoming space for the general public while providing real career opportunities for writers looking to make their mark on the Canarian literary landscape.