[6] UNESCO adopted the 31c/Resolution 29, in 2001, establishing the World Book Capital programme and naming Madrid as the first WBC city in 2001.

In Spain, Book Day began to be celebrated since 1926 every October 7,[7] the date that Miguel de Cervantes was believed to have been born.

So in 1930 King Alfonso XIII approved the change of celebration of the Book Day on April 23, the supposed date of the death of Cervantes.

[9] In the United Kingdom and Ireland, World Book Day is a charity event in March, held annually on the first Thursday and coinciding with the release of special editions.

[10] The annual celebration on 23 April is World Book Night, an event organized by independent charity The Reading Agency.