Peru shows its rich literature, culture at Sharjah Book Fair

Peru, the only Ibero-American country with a national stand, is participating in the 45th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). It has been displaying over 100 titles and activities for visitors. A special section has been dedicated to Mario Vargas Llosa, Peru’s Nobel Prize-winning author.

Talking to Gulf Today, Carla Bendezu, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Peru in the UAE, said the national stand is organised by the Embassy of Peru as it has a valuable opportunity to showcase its literature, history, and rich cultural heritage to an international audience.

“The stand features a selection of publications about Peru and welcomes representatives of the Peruvian publishing industry, fostering cultural exchange and connections with the regional publishing market. This participation marks an important step in strengthening Peru’s cultural presence in the UAE and promoting Peruvian literature internationally,” she said.

Peru continues to open new opportunities for its publishing industry.

She added, “For the first time, Peruvian publishers Gato Viejo, Mesa Redonda, and Letra Maquinada participated in the Sharjah Publishers Conference 2026 with the aim of seeking to establish international connections, explore new markets, and foster publishing cooperation agreements.”

During the publishers conference, Peru’s Ambassador to the UAE, Alberto Farje, met with their representatives to discuss opportunities for translating Peruvian works into Arabic, providing printing and editorial design services, and promoting the exchange of publications.

“This participation marks an important step toward the internationalisation of Peru’s publishing industry and the promotion of Peruvian literature in the Arab world,” she said.

Approximately 100 books displayed at the Peruvian stand cover a wide range of subjects, including Peruvian history, culture, art, heritage, children’s books, and literature.

“With the collection display at the national stand, our aim is to offer visitors a glimpse into Peru’s rich cultural heritage, literary traditions, and contemporary publishing industry,” she said.

Free digital download

Most of the books are available for free digital download. “We want to make Peruvian literature, history, and culture as accessible as possible to visitors who are interested in learning more about our country,” she mentioned.

Responding to a query on whether they were planning a collaboration with UAE publishing houses, Carla Bendezu said, “Absolutely. This is Peru’s first year participating with a national stand at the Sharjah International Book Fair, and we are very pleased that three Peruvian publishing houses — Gato Viejo, Mesa Redonda, and Letra Maquinada — also participated in the Sharjah Publishers Conference.

“We hope their participation has opened opportunities for agreements with regional and international publishers, particularly in the areas of translation into Arabic, printing services, and the exchange of publishing rights.

“We believe this is an important first step toward strengthening cooperation between the Peruvian publishing industry and the UAE’s dynamic literary and publishing sector,” she added.

So far as the national stand of Peru is concerned, “the response has been extremely positive and encouraging. We have received many visitors who have shown genuine curiosity about Peru, its history, culture, and literature. Many have expressed interest in discovering more about our country and exploring the books on display. For us, this has been a wonderful initiative and an excellent opportunity to introduce Peruvian literature to new audiences in the UAE and the wider region.

“We are particularly grateful to the Sharjah Book Authority for inviting Peru to participate in this important international event and for giving us the opportunity to showcase our literary and cultural heritage,” she said.

The stand has also hosted an interactive session with Her Highness Sheikha Alanoud Ibrahim Al Sabah, in partnership with the Embassy of Peru on Saturday. She presented her poetry collection ‘An Endless Path.’ The one-hour event featured a conversation in English, during which the author shared the inspiration behind her work, her connection with Latin America, and her special interest in Peruvian culture.