Cali's Author Event Circuit: Literary and Comic Gatherings in El Centro and San Antonio

Agenda: author events in Cali this September 2026

On any given Tuesday at 7 p.m., while the bar district of Juanchito is just starting to warm up, there is another Cali that is already buzzing. These are rooms with plastic chairs, wooden tables and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee where thirty or forty people listen to someone read a poem, present a short novel or show the first pages of a comic that is still in sketch form. This scene, although it has existed for years, has become much more visible and accessible in 2026.

Cali has a rich literary tradition that often does not appear in tourist guides. There are independent publishers, zine collectives, creative writing workshops and festivals that have been running for more than a decade. However, most of these events do not happen in the same places where the party scene thrives, which means many visitors — and quite a few caleños — miss out on a cultural circuit that is free or very affordable, and that takes place mainly in El Centro and in San Antonio.

This article is a practical guide to that circuit: where it happens, who organizes it, how to find out about the programming and what to keep in mind to arrive without setbacks.

What it is and context: the author circuit in Cali

When we talk about "author events", we mean gatherings where the protagonist is the creator: writers, illustrators, publishers, comic scriptwriters, poets and zinesters. They are not massive fairs or concerts, but small and medium-format events: book launches, public readings, workshops, talks with authors, independent publishing markets and screenings followed by conversation.

The particularity of Cali is that this circuit is not centralized in a single institution. It is spread among university spaces, independent bookstores, museums, cultural houses and cafés. This makes it more dispersed, but also more vibrant: every week there is something somewhere in the city, and much of the programming circulates through social media rather than official listings.

The historic epicenter is located in El Centro, around the plazoleta del CAM and the Biblioteca Departamental, and in barrio San Antonio, which for decades has functioned as the bohemian and artistic sector of the city. To this are added consolidated spaces such as Museo La Tertulia, which in 2026 celebrates 70 years of activity and remains one of the main articulators of art, cinema and culture in southwestern Colombia.

The epicenter: bookstores and cultural spaces in El Centro

El Centro in Cali has a density of cultural spaces that surprises anyone who only knows the city for its music. The area around the plazoleta del CAM and the Biblioteca Departamental concentrates much of the activity: book launches, writing workshops, talks with authors and presentations of literary magazines.

The Biblioteca Departamental serves as a venue for medium-format events and usually lends its auditoriums for presentations by independent publishers and academic gatherings open to the public. The plazoleta del CAM, for its part, is a meeting point where publishing fairs and creative entrepreneurship markets are occasionally set up. The programming varies from month to month, so the wisest thing is to check the current month's agenda before heading out.

A practical note: El Centro is walkable, but it is best to move along the main roads and during daytime hours. The area between Calle 25 and the CAM sector has a good offering of cafés and bakeries where you can take a break between events.

Asociación Casa Cultural El Chontaduro

This cultural house has been active since 1986 and is one of the most consistent community organizations in the city. Its work focuses on racial, territorial, gender and sexual diversity justice, using art and popular education as its main tools. Its programming includes workshops, gatherings, presentations and training activities, many of them open to the public and with variable admission depending on the event.

It is not a space for tourist consumption: it is a cultural house with a clear social mission. Anyone who visits should do so with respect for that dynamic, participate in what is proposed and understand that the value lies in the content, not the infrastructure. It is one of the best ways to understand the Cali that does not appear in salsa videos.

San Antonio as a stage: poetry, zines and comics

San Antonio is the neighborhood where the independent scene found its home. Its steep streets, its tapia and tile houses, and its small cafés have served for years as the venue for poetry festivals, zine fairs and comic gatherings. The atmosphere is relaxed, walkable and quite accessible for those coming from outside.

What characterizes San Antonio is not a single place, but the sum of several: second-hand bookstores, cafés with bookshelves, illustration workshops and spaces that transform according to the event. Many of these activities are free and are announced only a few days in advance, almost always through Instagram. If you plan to stay several days in the city, it is worth following the accounts of local collectives before arriving.

The neighborhood is also a good starting point to combine culture with gastronomy: there are specialty cafés, bakeries and small restaurants in the area of Parque San Antonio and its surroundings. The general recommendation is to arrive on foot from El Centro (about 20-25 minutes uphill) or by taxi from any point in the city.

Museo La Tertulia

Museo La Tertulia is probably the most consolidated cultural space in the city for art, cinema and literature events. With 70 years of operation, its programming includes exhibitions, film cycles, talks and activities related to the author circuit. Its Cinemateca is a regular venue for film festivals, such as the Festival de Cine Francés en Colombia, which in September 2026 has screenings scheduled there.

The museum is located on Avenida Colombia, on the western bank of the Cali River, and is open Tuesday to Sunday. It is a must-see reference point for anyone who wants to understand the Cali cultural scene beyond music. The programming is published on its official channels and in the city's cultural agenda.

Recurring events and how to track them

The author circuit in Cali does not have a single central listing. It works in layers: large institutions that publish their agenda in advance, independent collectives that announce only a few days ahead and spaces that improvise according to the availability of their rooms. To not miss anything, it is best to combine several sources.

• Social media of cultural collectives: they are the fastest and most up-to-date source. Instagram is the main platform for announcements of launches, zine fairs and readings.
• Museo La Tertulia agenda: publishes its programming of exhibitions, cinema and talks regularly.
• Biblioteca Departamental: venue for literary and academic events open to the public.
• Universities: faculties of humanities and arts usually have open programming of workshops and presentations.
• Independent bookstores: many function as meeting points and announce events in their windows and on social media.
• Ticketing platforms: for paid events, sites like LaTaquilla allow you to buy tickets in advance.

A practical tip: if you are going to be in Cali for several days, follow the accounts of the spaces before traveling. Most of the programming is published one or two weeks in advance, and small events tend to fill up quickly because the rooms are small.

Prices and how to get tickets

One of the best things about this circuit is its economic accessibility. Most events are free: public readings, book presentations, zine fairs and talks in cultural spaces usually do not charge admission. Events with a cost — workshops, special screenings, festivals with curated programming — have varied ranges depending on the organizer and the format.

Reference prices for September 2026 for this type of activity are moderate compared to other cultural events in the city, but they vary from one space to another. The recommendation is to verify directly with the organizer or on the sales platform before attending.

For ticketed events, the usual options are:

• Door sales: common at small events and fairs. Arriving early helps.
• Online platforms: useful for festivals and screenings with limited capacity.
• Reservation via social media: many collectives manage spots through direct message.

If the event is free but with limited capacity, it is best to arrive early. The rooms in San Antonio and El Centro are not large and tend to fill up at events with a guest author.

How to get there

The good news is that almost all of this circuit is in walkable areas well connected by public transport.

By MIO: the mass transit system has routes that pass through El Centro and the San Antonio sector. The main stations in El Centro connect with the CAM area and the Biblioteca Departamental, facilitating access to these events.

Event details (lineup, program, dates)

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Tips for attendees

Valentina Gómez

|Curadora de Arte, Festivales & Cultura

Cultural manager and events journalist. Covers festivals, independent theaters, art galleries, and local celebrations.