Book fair hoarders worry Filipino readers as MIBF books quickly sell out

Some MIBF retailers impose buying limits as popular titles fly off the shelves, highlighting strong demand for physical books.

The Manila International Book Fair may be becoming a less welcoming place for some readers as resellers reportedly hoard limited stocks, claim longtime patrons of the event.

As MIBF 2026 opened on September 9, book lovers noticed an increase in resellers among the crowd as book copies quickly ran out.

While some believe the crowds and sold-out stocks were expected on the book fair’s first day, others reportedly sighted known resellers hoarding books in bulk.

“I was at MIBF and saw a pretty well-known book seller from TikTok. Magpapa-picture sana ako pero mukhang busy siya sa pag hoard,” Threads user @anythingbypaul posted.

MIBF began as Bookfair Manila in 1980 and changed its name in 2003. The event brings together mainstream and independent local publishers, authors, book retailers, and educational institutions to sell their goods at steep discounts, with many offering limited-edition titles and promos exclusive to the event.

The book fair charges a general admission fee of ₱50, but event partners post free entrance passes online for attendees to print at home.

Many local enthusiasts believe that live selling may have contributed to the rising popularity of books, as many engage in affiliate marketing through TikTok and reselling through Facebook.

“Ibang-iba ‘yan kaysa sa MIBF noon. Grabe, dati madaming tao pero wala kang makikitang ganyan, madami talagang readers lang and nagpupunta dahil book enthusiast sila ganon. Hay, good times. Kaya madalang na rin ako pumunta diyan eh, 3 years na kong di pumupunta. Dami na performative diyan saka scalpers,” posted one Reddit user.

At the same time, the rush for physical copies could also be seen as a good problem for the book industry. In an era when readers have easy access to ebooks and other digital formats, strong demand for printed books at MIBF suggests that the appetite for physical reading remains healthy.

But with demand outpacing supply for some titles, some retailers imposed buying limits.

National Bookstore, for instance, announced a limit of 1 copy per customer per day for the widely anticipated English translation of Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi.

Anvil Publishing imposed a limit of 5 copies per title per person per day, while limited releases exclusive to September 12 to 13 can only be bought at a limit of 1 copy per title per person per day.

MIBF 2026 runs until September 13 at SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City.

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