“Thanks to our guests, exhibitors, and especially our visitors, that goal was reaffirmed in this 10th edition,” added Marisol Schulz Manaut.
LéaLA Spanish Language Book Fair & Literary Festival concluded four dynamic days of programming that welcomed more than 12,500 attendees, connecting the Los Angeles Hispanic community with authors, poets, filmmakers, scholars, and creators. This year’s theme, “Building Peace Together,” reflected the event’s spirit of celebrating Latin culture and the Spanish language.
With more than 150 Spanish-language publishers showcasing their catalogs and latest releases, LéaLA remains the most ambitious program in the U.S. dedicated to Spanish books and reading.
“Together, from the heart of Los Angeles, we are writing a shared story where the culture, language, and dreams of our Hispanic community shine brighter than ever,” said Gustavo Padilla Montes, President of the University of Guadalajara Foundation USA, which also celebrates its 17th anniversary this year.
“Our goal from day one was for our community to make this fair their own. Over these 14 years, families have come together to learn, have fun, and celebrate their Latin heritage, language, and culture. Thanks to our guests, exhibitors, and especially our visitors, that goal was reaffirmed in this 10th edition,” added Marisol Schulz Manaut, Director of LéaLA and the Guadalajara International Book Fair.
“As we close this anniversary edition, I invite everyone to read—not as a task, but as an act of courage and freedom, a way to cultivate hope, empathy, and critical thinking, which we need now more than ever,” Schulz said.
Highlights of LéaLA 2025
Over 348 publishing imprints presented books across 30 exhibition areas.
Children’s and youth workshops through the “Letras para Volar” initiative brought more than 2,000 LAUSD students from 36 schools to the fair.
Forum of Ideas sessions featured experts and academics discussing Mexico–U.S. relations, education, and contemporary issues. Cultural programming included literature, poetry, cinema, education, humor, and music.
Performances featured Los Angeles’ Maqueos Music Banda Filarmónica and Jalisco’s Café Capricho.
Notable Guests and Authors
The event welcomed cultural leaders such as Karla Planter, General Rector of the University of Guadalajara; José Trinidad Padilla López, President of the University of Guadalajara Foundation A.C.; and Lydia Acosta Stephens, Executive Director of the LAUSD Multilingual and Multicultural Education Department. Participating authors and creators included Silvia Olmedo, María Baranda, Rocío Cerón, Raquel Castro, Alberto Chimal, Benito Taibo, Xavier Velasco, José Ignacio “Chascas” Valenzuela, Rodrigo Morlesin, Toño Malpica, Jorge F. Hernández, and filmmakers Alana Simões and José Ramón Mikelajáuregui. The Central de Poesía program, coordinated by Gaspar Orozco and Ilana Luna, featured poets such as Rocío Cerón, Alicia Kozameh, William Archila, and Flor Aguilera, among many others.
