On 26 November 2026, ThinkPub partner Fundación Germán Sánchez Ruipérez (FGSR) will bring together international experts in reading and literacy at Casa del Lector in Madrid for Lecturalab 26. Combining research, debate and practical workshops, the forum will explore how to encourage deeper engagement with reading and strengthen its role in individual development and democratic life.
At a time when speed, distraction and fragmented attention increasingly shape our encounters with texts, this year’s edition makes the case for “ambitious reading”: sustained, intellectually engaging reading that develops concentration, critical thinking and the capacity to reflect. Drawing on the Ljubljana Reading Manifesto, the programme will consider how reading promotion can welcome more readers while supporting the skills needed to engage with complex ideas.
The morning programme will feature Miha Kovač, Anne Mangen and André Schüller-Zwierlein, contributors to the Ljubljana Reading Manifesto, alongside Anne Teräväinen-Goff from the UK’s National Literacy Trust. Their presentations will explore the relationships between reading, democracy and innovation; the importance of cognitive effort and sustained attention; the influence of digital technologies on reading practices; and what research from the United Kingdom reveals about readers’ engagement.
A discussion chaired by Luis González, Director General of FGSR, will bring these perspectives together to consider their implications for education, literacy policy and the wider book sector.
In the afternoon, three hands-on workshops will translate these questions into creative approaches for libraries, schools and cultural organisations:
- Maru García will explore reading through play, puzzles and literary challenges, offering ways to turn reading spaces into environments for discovery.
- Ellen Duthie will demonstrate how literature, images and carefully framed questions can encourage reflection, dialogue and critical thinking.
- Paloma de Landa will introduce accessible ways to use audio for storytelling, dramatisation and creative participation, without substantial budgets or prior technical expertise.
For publishers, librarians, educators and reading promoters, Lecturalab 26 offers an opportunity to exchange ideas, engage with international research and discover practical ways to build lasting relationships with readers.
26 November 2026 | Casa del Lector, Madrid