The official website of the Presidency of the Republic announced that the “Book Festival in Belém will take place from September 25 to 28, in the gardens of the Belém Palace” and that “new programming will be announced soon.”
Following the elevator accident in Glória, Lisbon, last Wednesday, which resulted in 16 fatalities and several serious injuries, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced that night the cancellation of the Book Festival at the Belém Palace, initially scheduled from Thursday to Sunday.
A previous statement indicated that the Book Festival would be “rescheduled for a later date and at an indoor venue,” in agreement with the Portuguese Association of Publishers and Booksellers (APEL).
The note released today states, “The President of the Republic reiterates his appreciation to all APEL-associated editors and booksellers, artists, and other involved entities for their prompt solidarity and understanding demonstrated over the past few days.”
“New programming will be announced shortly, with the hope that families, book and music enthusiasts will respond positively to the President of the Republic’s invitation for what will be the last edition of the Book Festival in Belém during his presidential terms,” the note adds.
This will be the eighth and final edition of the Book Festival at the gardens of the Belém Palace, an initiative with free entry, launched by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in his first year as head of state in 2016, in collaboration with APEL, to promote reading.
At the palace gardens, aside from book stalls and autograph sessions, there are debates, cinema, music, and activities for children. The Book Festival was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The original program for this year’s edition, from September 4 to 7, included concerts by Carolina Deslandes, Rui Veloso, Bárbara Tinoco, and Xutos & Pontapés. The program also featured a debate on “Portugal and the Future,” with Manuela Ferreira Leite and António Barreto, moderated by Pedro Mexia.
