One big thing on the city calendar this fortnight, one to put in your diary for October, and the newest additions to the neighbourhood.
September 8, 2026
The book festival turns twenty, and two new places in the guide
What's on
through September 20
Fiesta del Libro y la Cultura — 20th edition
Jardín Botánico Joaquín Antonio Uribe
Free entry
The city's book festival turns twenty, and this is the big one: ten straight days at the Botanical Garden and across the northern zone, 10am to 9pm, completely free. This year's theme is “Travesías de la lectura”. It is one of the few Medellín events that is genuinely as good on a weekday morning as on a Saturday. From Laureles take the metro B line to San Antonio, change to line A and get off at Universidad.
Worth putting in the diary now: Medellín's big rock, metal, punk and hip-hop festival returns for three days in October. Dates are confirmed on the city's events calendar; the line-up and venue detail come later.
A rooftop on the fourth floor of Carrera 76, under a canopy of blossom and neon that reads “we cook con alma, con fuego”. Cocktails are poured at the table and the terrace looks straight down onto the street. Open from 1pm, later on weekends. Worth booking.
Primavera Rooftop — Cra 76, fourth floor, dinner and cocktails
La Salchipapería D.C. — by the Primer Parque, open until almost midnight on weekends
The parks now have a photo, and there is a free EnCicla bike station in the Primer Parque
For neighbourhood businesses
If you run a business in Laureles and want to be in the guide, we need four things: the business name, an email, a phone or WhatsApp, and one to three photos. It is free, and it usually goes up the same week.
