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It’s silly to say, but in the past few years, reading seems to have gone through a renaissance. Whether it’s because of the popularity of ‘Booktok’ creators, or because people have just had enough of scrolling on their phones, books are firmly in for 2026 – and nowhere is that being celebrated more than in Morocco's capital, Rabat.
This April, Rio de Janeiro will pass the title of UNESCO’s World Book Capital onto Rabat. With it comes a whole host of exciting events and activities within the African city, which will hold onto the crown until 2027 when it will once again move across the world.
So, what has Rabat done to earn its place as the Book Capital of 2026? Well, it’s home to 54 publishing houses, hosts the third largest publishing fair in Africa and has a thriving indie bookshop scene. When announcing the town’s win, UNESCO also commended it for its ‘clear commitment to literary development, the empowerment of women and youth through reading and the fight against illiteracy, especially among underserved communities’. Clearly, it’s a pretty deserving winner.
RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Morocco, according to Time Out
Rabat is celebrating its success with a huge opening ceremony, with several international authors in attendance. We don’t know much more about this event right now, but in the past it has been a pretty impressive affair.
A programme of events is also being planned, which will range from masterclasses and talks from experts and writers, to reading ‘marathons’, where you can join a group of like-minded nerds (in the best way possible) to read to your heart’s content.
All of this is why visiting Rabat is one of our top recommended things to do in the world this year, alongside worshipping the sun at a solar eclipse party, checking out this huge bridge in Paris, and more.
But don’t worry if books aren’t your thing – there’s plenty of other reasons to explore Rabat. It’s full of history and culture, with stunning Roman walls still standing just outside of the centre, but is less touristy than Marrakech, making it the ideal place to discover Moroccan history away from the crowds.
Check out Time Out’s full list of the best new things to do in the world this year.
All the new tourist taxes and charges across Europe to know about in 2026.
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