The World Book Capital is a program dedicated to reading and books. After the declaration of World Book and Copyright Day by UNESCO in 1996, the concept of World Book Capital emerged and Madrid was first chosen as the World Book Capital in 2001.
Welcoming the President of the World Libraries Association, Barbara Lison, at the Atatürk Library in Beyoğlu, İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu said, "In 2024, I will share with the President his journey and his intention to make Istanbul a capital city." Defining Istanbul as a city that connects the old book culture and digital development, Lison said, “I am very happy that you expressed your intention to become the book capital of the world.