São Paulo City Hall's program at the 2026 São Paulo Book Biennial combines literary panels, music, poetry gatherings, storytelling, workshops and family activities across two spaces, booths B88 and J38. The schedule published by the Municipal Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy lists activities from September 4 to 14 and says they are free and open to the public. There is, however, an important discrepancy for anyone planning a visit: the Biennial's official website says the 28th edition runs from September 4 to 13 at Distrito Anhembi. Any activity listed for September 14 should therefore be confirmed through official channels before traveling to the venue.
First: what is free and what still requires admission
The activities announced by City Hall at its booths are free. That does not automatically mean free admission to the Biennial itself. The event maintains a separate ticket page for general visitors, while City Hall describes the cultural program in its spaces as free. In practice, plan access to the event separately from the activities you want to attend.
The two main municipal spaces are booth B88, focused on launches, panels, poetry events, music and some workshops, and booth J38, with a strong emphasis on children's programming, storytelling, studios, workshops and recurring artistic interventions.
Program by date: what to prioritize
| Date | City Hall highlights | Best fit | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/04 | “De Mão em Mão” launch at 11 a.m.; Crianceiras at 3 p.m.; Arnaldo Antunes at 4 p.m.; panels on peripheral literatures and book clubs at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. J38 also begins the “Uma história conta outra” studio. | Brazilian literature, music and discussions | One of the busiest days for fixed-time events; arrive early enough to follow the afternoon sequence. |
| 09/05 | Bala Vras live poetry experience at 2 p.m.; “Poesia e resistência” panel at 4 p.m.; Tulipa Ruiz and Gustavo Ruiz at 7 p.m. J38 includes Cia Caju Azul, Projeto Rios and “No Reino das Palavras”. | Poetry, music and families | Part of the J38 schedule is published with “various” times; check the updated program on the day. |
| 09/06 | “Poemas e Passagens” poetry gathering at 11 a.m. and Renan Inquérito at 4 p.m. J38 includes storytelling and a Projeto Rios workshop. | Poetry, music and children's activities | A good day to combine one fixed-time event at B88 with more flexible activities at J38. |
| 09/07 | ENTRE.PONTOS. with Olga de Dios at 4 p.m.; MC Marechal and Medusa Andarilha at 5 p.m.; a panel on libraries and democratizing access at 7 p.m. J38 features Cia Caju Azul, Coral VoxNova and “Pequeno Universo Particular Sussurrante”. | Books, music and reading policy | Events run in sequence from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; allow time to move between the two booths. |
| 09/08 | “O livro do mundo inteiro” storytelling at noon and 2 p.m.; UCCI roundtable on public libraries from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. J38 also includes storytelling and Cia Caju Azul. | Libraries, professional learning and families | The UCCI session occupies a long afternoon block; this is the strongest day for a training-oriented visit. |
| 09/09 | 60+ poetry gathering at noon. J38 includes Projeto Rios, cultural activities, MPBzinho, “No Reino das Palavras”, Coral VoxNova and a wooden-toy workshop. | Intergenerational and children's programming | J38 has many activities; confirm detailed times before building a tightly scheduled route. |
| 09/10 | Grupo Triii presents “Miudinho” at 3 p.m. At J38, Coletivo Ajô-Arô appears at 2 p.m., the wooden-toy workshop at 4 p.m., followed by evening activities. | Families and children | One of the clearest days for a family-focused itinerary; arrive early for workshops if capacity is limited. |
| 09/11 | Abayomi doll workshops at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.; “Onde estão nossos leitores” panel at 4 p.m.; Arquivo Nômade at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Siba at 7 p.m. J38 continues with workshops and evening events. | Workshop, discussion and music | Many events have fixed times. Choose priorities rather than trying to fit everything in. |
| 09/12 | “Autoras na Biblioteca Anne Frank” at 2 p.m. J38 continues its studio, storytelling, wooden-toy workshop, Coletivo Ajô-Arô, Coral VoxNova and evening interventions. | Families, reading and arts | As a Saturday, allow extra time inside the fair and avoid scheduling activities too close together. |
| 09/13 | A panel on building children's literature catalogs is listed at 4 p.m./5 p.m. in the municipal post. J38 continues its studio, Coral VoxNova, workshops and interventions. | Children's literature and closing day | The Biennial's official website identifies September 13 as the last day and lists shorter closing hours. |
| 09/14 | The City Hall post includes September 14 in the children's literature catalog panel listing. | Only with prior confirmation | Confirm before going. The Biennial's official website says the event ends on September 13, so the two official sources conflict. |
Three simple ways to build your itinerary
For literature and music
September 4, 5, 7 and 11 offer strong combinations of panels and music performances. Instead of trying to see everything, choose a block of two or three nearby activities. On September 4, for example, you can build a continuous afternoon around Crianceiras, Arnaldo Antunes and the 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. panels.
For children and families
Booth J38 is the most consistent reference point. The municipal schedule lists a studio, storytelling, Biblioteca de Brincar, Projeto Rios, wooden-toy workshops, “Minhas Heroínas Negras” and oral-storytelling activities across several days. Because some entries are listed with “various” times, the best strategy is to choose the day based on the overall set of activities and confirm the detailed schedule close to your visit.
For libraries, training and reading policy
September 8 stands out for the UCCI roundtable on public libraries, scheduled from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. September 7 also includes a panel on welcoming audiences and democratizing access, while September 11 features the discussion “Onde estão nossos leitores”.
When it is worth arriving early or checking the schedule
- Concerts and well-known names: performances by Arnaldo Antunes, Tulipa Ruiz, Renan Inquérito and Siba have fixed times and may draw larger crowds.
- Workshops: hands-on activities such as Abayomi dolls and wooden toys may depend on the physical capacity of the space. The source consulted does not state whether reservations or numbered passes will be used, so arriving early is a precaution, not a guarantee of a place.
- Entries with “various” times: J38 has several recurring activities without detailed times in the City Hall news post. Confirm the day's program before leaving.
- September 14: do not treat this as a confirmed Biennial visit date. The municipal schedule and the event's official calendar disagree.
Venue and Biennial hours
The 2026 São Paulo International Book Biennial takes place at Distrito Anhembi, Av. Olavo Fontoura, 1209, Santana, São Paulo. The official website says the event runs from September 4 to 13: weekdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; weekends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and the final Sunday, September 13, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission closes one hour before the event ends.
For the municipal program, check the Municipal Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy post. To confirm the event calendar, general hours and admission, use the Biennial's official website and the ticket page.
Checklist before you leave
- First choose the fixed-time event that matters most to you.
- Use J38 activities as flexible additions, especially for family itineraries.
- Confirm that the activity remains at the same booth and time on the day of your visit.
- Arrange your Biennial ticket or access condition separately from the free municipal program.
- If an activity is listed for September 14, confirm it directly through official channels before traveling.
