There are two kinds of people at the Manila International Book Fair: those who arrive with a planned walkthrough the whole venue and those who say they are “just looking” and “attending MIBF for the plot” before leaving with an unreasonable stack of books.

Whichever one you are, MIBF 2026 has plenty to fill your calendar. Running from September 9 to 13 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, this year’s fair brings together more than 100 exhibitors alongside book launches, signings, talks, workshops, performances, and other events.

These are the stops we’re plotting into our itinerary.

Start With Mika Salamanca

If your MIBF plans begin with a little celebrity sighting, Mika Salamanca is one of the names to put on your list.

The actress and content creator returns to the fair for a meet-and-greet and signing Lipad at the National Book Store booth, giving fans a chance to see her beyond the screen and into her growing life as an author. NBS is also hosting a wider lineup of book talks, signings, and hands-on activities throughout the fair, so check its official MIBF schedule before heading over for Mika’s appearance.

Give Yourself Time to Wander

Before you sprint from one event to another, leave room for the actual book fair. MIBF brings more than 100 exhibitors across two floors, from major bookstores and publishing houses to academic presses, independent publishers, and comics creators.

Continue your bibliophile fantasy and browse and Fully Booked, then make your way toward publishers like UP Press, Ateneo University Press, Anvil Publishing, Adarna House, Summit Publishing, 8Letters, and 19th Avenida. You might arrive looking for one title and leave with a completely different one.

Friday Is for Ricky Lee

Save September 11 for one of the fair’s biggest literary moments. National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee will launch Quiapo Ilalim: Pagsusulat ng Iba’t Ibang Daan at 6:30 PM at the 2/F Function Room 1 stage. The book is the follow-up to Trip to Quiapo, Lee’s widely used guide for aspiring writers, and brings together his reflections on writing and the many paths that lead to a story.

The launch also comes with a lineup of readers and performers from the film and literary community, including Aicelle Santos, Agot Isidro, Angel Aquino, Bayang Barrios, Cristine Reyes, Dimples Romana, JC Santos, Joey Javier Reyes, Nour Hooshmand, and Shaina Magdayao.

If you are serious about writing—or simply curious about the mind behind some of Philippine cinema’s most enduring stories this is the Friday stop worth building your evening around.

Saturday: Make Room for Ben&Ben

Miguel and Paolo Guico of Ben&Ben will launch The Traveller Across Dimensions, a storybook that serves as a narrative counterpart to the band’s studio album of the same name. The launch is scheduled for 10 AM at the G/F Exhibit Hall 1 stage.

Later in the afternoon, music history takes over with The Beatles in Manila, featuring David Guerrero and Lourd de Veyra at 4:30 PM. 

The discussion revisits the Beatles’ famously chaotic 1966 Manila visit, making it a particularly fun detour for anyone whose reading list happens to come with a soundtrack.

And if you have room between events, Saturday is also the day to explore the fair’s comics, manga, and international author programming.

Sunday Is Your Final Boss

For the last day, we’re giving ourselves permission to slow down but not before catching a few final stops. Romance readers can make their way to The Next Love Story at 12:30 PM, featuring Mica de Leon, Ines Bautista-Yao, Kyra Ysabel, and AK Tolentino.

Then there is Atom Araullo’s book signing from 5 PM to 6 PM at the UP Press Booth. His A View From the Ground collects his narrative journalism and photographs, focusing on people living on the margins of society.

And Somewhere in Between: Wilbert Ross

Of course, no ZEEN itinerary would be complete without making room for a little superhero lore. Wilbert Ross will be at the 8Letters Booth throughout MIBF 2026 for AdLikhaing Hero Verse, an original Filipino superhero universe. 

His signing offers fans the chance to meet the author, have copies signed, and learn more about the inspiration and creative process behind the project.

You can find him at Booth 311–312, Aisle G on the ground floor. The signing runs across the fair’s September 9–13 dates, with pre-registration available for those planning to attend.

For fans of Ross, this is an easy addition to any day’s route and a reminder that the fair is not only about established literary names. It is also a space for Filipino creators building entirely new worlds.

MIBF 2026 runs from September 9 to 13 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, with the official theme “Get Lit: Reading in a New Light.” Check the official schedule before heading out, especially for events with limited or changing schedules.