PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Bandung City Government continues to strive to improve the community's literacy culture through a more creative approach that is closer to everyday life.

Through the Archives and Library Service (Disarpus), the Bandung City Government will hold the Pages & Plates Festival 2026 featuring Big Bad Wolf Books at the Bikasoga Sport Center, Bandung City, on August 3–9, 2026.

This festival is the first event in Bandung City that combines an international book bazaar, culinary festival, and various educational and family entertainment activities in one area.

The Head of the Bandung City Archives and Library Service, Dewi Kaniasari (Kenny), said that the festival was held as a follow-up to the direction of Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan, who wanted to bring the literacy ecosystem closer to the community.

"Seeing the success of Big Bad Wolf in Kota Baru Parahyangan previously, Mayor Muhammad Farhan wants the spirit of literacy to be present directly among the people of Bandung City. Therefore, we packaged it as the Pages & Plates Festival, not just a book bazaar, but a festival that combines literacy, culinary, and a space for community creativity," he said at the Pendopo on Tuesday (June 21, 2026).

According to Kenny, this concept was chosen so that people would not only come to buy books, but also enjoy a pleasant reading experience with their families.

The festival features the Big Bad Wolf international book bazaar as its main attraction, combined with a culinary festival curated by the renowned Keuken culinary community, so visitors can enjoy a reading atmosphere while enjoying typical culinary delights.

Additionally, throughout the seven-day event, various activities will be held involving Bandung's literacy and creative communities. These include children's storytelling, creative workshops, talk shows, and a stage for communities to showcase various educational activities.

"We want to present an integrated festival. So people come not only to buy books, but also to participate in various literacy activities, enjoy culinary delights, have discussions, and even relax with their families," he said.

Kenny hopes that the Pages & Plates Festival can become an annual event for the City of Bandung and enrich the regional events calendar.

"We hope this festival can become an annual event that further strengthens Bandung's identity as a creative city and a city with a strong literary culture," he said.

Meanwhile, Country Director of Big Bad Wolf Books Indonesia, Marthius Wandi Budianto, said that this year's event has a special meaning because it coincides with a decade of Big Bad Wolf's presence in Indonesia.

He revealed that after 10 years of traveling around various major cities in Indonesia, Big Bad Wolf was finally able to be present in the center of Bandung City through collaboration with the Bandung City Government.

"In our 10 years in Indonesia, this is the first time we've held an event in downtown Bandung. We share the same vision as the Bandung City Government to improve public literacy and make reading not just a lifestyle, but a part of everyday life," he said.

At this festival, Big Bad Wolf will present more than one million books from various categories, ranging from children's books, fiction, non-fiction, business to science and technology.

All books are offered at affordable prices, starting from Rp. 25,000, Rp. 50,000 to Rp. 75,000, so that they can be accessed by all levels of society.

"We want people to go home with two or three books that might change their thinking and lives. Literacy should be accessible to everyone," said Marthius.

The organizers also target this festival to attract more than 20,000 visitors every day, considering the high interest of the Bandung community in literacy activities and family recreation.

In addition to promoting a reading culture, the 2026 Pages & Plates Festival is expected to stimulate the creative economy sector and culinary MSMEs, as well as strengthen Bandung City's position as an inclusive and family-friendly literacy tourism destination.

The entire series of activities can be enjoyed by the public free of charge without an entrance fee.

(Bandung City Communications and Information Service/rka)