By Manila Bulletin Newsroom Since its launch in 2023, the Philippine Book Festival (PBF), led by the National Book Development Board, has helped bring Filipino-authored books, educational materials, and creative works closer to the masses. The festival has drawn more than 120,000 visitors and, through its partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), helped generate P946 million in institutional book sales in 2024 alone. Its mission of creating a shared third place for readers, writers, teachers, illustrators, publishers, students, families, and literary enthusiasts continues with its 2026 edition.
On Feb. 26, 2026, at the JRich Corporate Center in Quezon City, the NBDB officially announced the return of the PBF. Now in its fourth year, the festival is slated to run from March 12 to 15, 2026, at the Megatrade Hall of SM Megamall.
This year, the PBF adopts the theme “Gubat ng Karunungan,” or “The Rainforest of Knowledge,” with artist and designer Joffrey “Pepot” Atienza leading the festival’s key visuals. The festival’s rainforest-inspired setting will spotlight its signature sections, or realms: Kid Lit, Komiks, Booktopia, and Aral Aklat. Rounding out this year’s festival experience are five activation spaces: Lugar Lagdaan, Bahay Ilustrador, Gubat ng Karunungan, Fiesta Stage, and Umpukan.
Present during the launch were Palanca Award–winning author Joxe “Butch” Dalisay and the “Godfather of the Philippine Book Industry,” Atty. Dominador Buhain. Also present at the kick-off were some of the festival’s featured authors, including Segundo Matias, CJ Reynaldo, Ronaldo Vivo Jr., Nelson Canlas, and Yasmien Kurdi.
On March 14, the Fiesta Stage will host the 43rd National Book Awards (NBA), honoring the authors, illustrators, editors, translators, and publishers whose work has shaped and sustained Philippine literature.
“With the continued interest we’ve seen over the past few years, we are encouraged by the growing appreciation for Filipino stories and content,” said NBDB executive director Charisse Aquino-Tugade. “The strong public response affirms that there is a meaningful demand for books that reflect our culture, languages, and lived experiences.”
