Oiga Mire Lea is preparing ten days of encounters, from November 20 to 29, with 137 authors from Valle del Cauca selected through an open call. Its theme, “Imagine without limits,” grew out of workshops with children. Libraries, universities and cultural venues will welcome an edition that brings the city together around books once again.
A conversation that keeps growing
The festival’s official history describes a journey that began at Biblioteca Departamental Jorge Garcés Borrero and gradually reached other venues. Conversations between writers and readers grew to include workshops, readings and music, with free admission. The gathering continued online during 2020 and 2021. Oiga Mire Lea Junior arrived in 2024, bringing new generations into that conversation and giving younger audiences a place within the festival.
Stories travel across the Valle region
BiblioValle’s report for 2025 shows the scale of this cultural network: it recorded 158 activities and more than 20,000 attendees. Alongside Cali, events reached Buenaventura, Jamundí, La Cumbre, Ginebra, Guacarí and Ansermanuevo. Conversations, book launches and workshops shared the program with concerts and exhibitions. That earlier edition shows how the experience can begin close to home, in settings beyond a large publishing fair, and connect readers across different towns.
An invitation for families
When presenting the 2026 edition, the library announced a dedicated program for OML Junior and plans to expand the activities and their geographical reach. The proposal aims to bring reading, writing and cultural exchange to more audiences. For families, it is an opportunity to discover what sparks curiosity: listening to a story, meeting its author or taking part in a conversation about a book.
Use the visit planner to choose dates and venues that suit you.