Uruguay is taking steps to promote its literature internationally at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, a major event for the Spanish-language publishing industry. The fair, which spans nine days and includes dedicated time for professional activities, gathers readers, publishers, agents, authors, and industry professionals from across Ibero-America.
As part of its strategy to increase the global presence of Uruguayan literature, Uruguay is participating in the Salón de Derechos (Rights Fair), an important marketplace for literary rights negotiations. This participation aims to facilitate international deals and broaden the reach of Uruguayan authors.
Uruguay XXI will highlight the IDA Translation Programme during the fair. This initiative offers grants to foreign publishers interested in translating works by Uruguayan writers. The programme was developed in partnership with the National Directorate of Culture and is named after Ida Vitale—poet, critic, essayist, translator, and winner of the 2018 Cervantes Prize. According to organizers, “Vitale — poet, critic, essayist and translator — is one of the most influential figures in contemporary Uruguayan literature. Winner of the 2018 Cervantes Prize and many other international honours, she embodies the global projection of Uruguay’s literary voice and the cultural dialogue that the country aims to foster through translation.”
At this year’s book fair in Guadalajara, Uruguay will also present a catalogue featuring works recognized at the Bartolomé Hidalgo Awards. These awards have been given annually since 1988 by the Uruguayan Chamber of Books and are considered a benchmark for quality within Uruguay’s publishing sector. The catalogue includes finalists and winners from October 2025’s edition at Montevideo International Book Fair—among them Sobre esta tierra by Lalo Barrubia (fiction), Cordón Soho by Natalia Mardero and Lucía Álvarez (graphic novel), Un mar en madrugada by Silvia Guerra (poetry), and Ganar la guerra by Magdalena Broquetas (history).
In preparation for Guadalajara, Uruguay XXI organized an international publishing mission in Montevideo earlier this year. Industry representatives Santiago Tobón from Sexto Piso (Mexico–Spain) and Sandro Aloisio from Grupo Escala (Brazil) visited sites significant to Uruguay’s literary heritage as well as met with local publishers and authors.
Omaira Rodríguez from Uruguay XXI explained: “We wanted them to get to know not only today’s publishers, authors and illustrators, but also the living history behind them — the places where our literature was forged.”
The visit included stops at institutions such as the National Academy of Letters—the former residence of Julio Herrera y Reissig—the Casa de Susana Soca, Zorrilla Museum, Mario Benedetti Foundation, and Café Brasilero.
Tobón described his experience as “a fascinating journey” highlighting both tradition and modern creativity; Aloisio called it “a fundamental immersion” that encouraged reflection on regional literary exchange: “We have a cultural debt between our peoples. We need to look more closely at those who are close to us.”
According to Tobón: “The effervescence that exists in Uruguay is not common in other countries.” In March next year Carolina Orloff from Charco Press will also travel to Montevideo for further meetings with local industry figures.
Uruguay’s approach combines established literary production with new voices while maintaining institutional support for internationalization efforts through programmes like IDA Translation Programme and presentations such as Bartolomé Hidalgo Awards catalogue. These initiatives aim to boost copyright acquisitions abroad and encourage translations into other languages while strengthening ties with regional publishers.
