In the southern part of Buenos Aires stands a palace that was headed by Jorge Luis Borges himself for 18 years, and this October it will host , for the first time, a book fair entirely dedicated to him. Buenos Aires is celebrating the first Borgean Book Fair—a fair where you can discover unique, rare, and special editions by and about Borges, but also an opportunity to lose yourself in the hallways and staircases of the former National Library, a late-20th-century palace that still exudes the Beaux-Arts charm of one of the city’s most extraordinary buildings. And admission is free!
Borges himself confessed in his conversations with Osvaldo Ferrari that, when he dreamed while traveling, he always found himself back in Buenos Aires—specifically on the block of Mexico Street between Bolívar and Perú. Perhaps it’s because that block is home to the Buenos Aires palace that housed him for 18 years of his life, while it served as the headquarters of the National Library and Borges was its director.
The 1901 palace that houses Borges’s work
The former National Library building was designed by Italian architect Carlos Morra to originally house the National Lottery. As you walk through its hallways, you’ll notice its Beaux-Arts architecture, filled with Italian marble, ornate skylights, and fine woodwork. The building eventually became the National Library in 1901. There, Jorge Luis Borges was appointed director in 1955 and oversaw nearly a million books, despite being completely blind. This secret corner of Buenos Aires preserves the writer’s original office intact.
In 1992, the National Library moved to its current location in Recoleta, but this palace on México Street remains a sanctuary for literature lovers. Borges referred to it in *Poema de los dones* as the “city of books.”
The Buenos Aires palace that inspired Borges opens its doors for a one-of-a-kind book fair
On Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10, that very block will be transformed into the heart of his literary universe with the arrival of the first Borges Book Fair. A book fair where, for two days, you can immerse yourself in true literary gems, rare books, and collector’s items.
At this fair, you’ll find works by and about Borges, first editions, rare, used, and antique copies, as well as the books and authors that were part of his favorite readings. Exhibitors includeantiquarian booksellers and publishers, specialists from the Association of Antiquarian Booksellers of the Argentine Republic (ALADA), prominent bookstores such as Aquilanti, Rare Book Room, The Book Cellar & Henschel, Antiqvaria Durán, among others, and the Borges-themed catalog from the National Library’s Publishing House.
Guided tours and a talk on collecting
In addition to wandering and getting lost among the books, you’ll be able to participate in exclusive activities that will immerse you in the history of the building and the author’s work:
👉Guided tours of the historic rooms: A special itinerary through the spaces where Borges thought and wrote.
Friday, October 9: two sessions, at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 10: one session, at 3:00 p. m.
👉Talk: “In the Footsteps of the Borgesian Book”: On Saturday, October 10, at 5:00 p.m., researcher and collector Nicolás Helft, along with bookseller and publisher Ariel Fleischer, will share the secrets, discoveries, and challenges of building a Borgesian collection.
Very important! Special activities such as guided tours and talks have limited capacity and therefore require prior registration. You must send an email to centrojlborges@bn.gob.ar to sign up. Also, please note that access to the historic rooms on the first floor is by stairs only.
📅When: Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
📍Where: Former headquarters of the National Library (México 564, Montserrat / Barrio Sur, CABA)
👉Admission: Free
👉Registration for talks and tours: centrojlborges@bn.gob.ar (for guided tours and talks)
