The 2026 edition of the National Used-Book Fair is continuing at the Arjoune venue in Casablanca’s Derb Sultan district. Originally scheduled to run from July 20 to Aug. 10, the event has been extended through Aug. 17 due to high visitor numbers.
Held under the theme “Culture that brings us together,” the fair has become one of Casablanca’s major summer cultural events. Located in one of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods, it draws an increasingly large audience each year.
“This fair is held in the heart of a working-class neighborhood. Around 90% of Casablanca’s population comes here,” said its director, Youssef Bourra, in a statement to Le360.
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Researchers, writers, academics, literary critics, collectors and readers of all ages come together in a friendly atmosphere, making the event a place for people to meet and exchange ideas around books.
One of the fair’s main attractions is its affordable pricing. Many books are available from as little as 5 dirhams, while others are priced between 10 and 15 dirhams. These prices make books more accessible and help encourage reading.
The National Used-Book Fair is also a popular destination for bibliophiles and collectors looking for rare, old or out-of-print books that are no longer available through traditional distribution channels.
While several official reports point to a decline in reading habits in Morocco, the secondhand booksellers at the fair offer a more nuanced view. They say people are still buying and reading books. “Paper books still have an irreplaceable place alongside social media,” one exhibitor told Le360.
Beyond its cultural role, the fair is also helping boost economic activity in this part of Casablanca during the summer, drawing significant foot traffic that benefits local businesses, booksellers and other economic actors.
