Six years after the launching of the World Book and Copyright Day (23 April) in 1995, IPA had the idea, inspired by the successful experience of the city of Madrid, to nominate the best city programme aimed at promoting books during the period between one Book Day and the next.
UNESCO supported the initiative and every year convenes delegates from the International Publishers Association, the International Authors Forum (IAF), the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) to consider the applications. This Advisory Committee makes a shortlist of three candidates and recommends a winner to UNESCO’s Director-General.