The event marks the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Libraries network. Smith, known for works such as How to Be Both, is expected to highlight the value of public library services. Despite her international standing, the appointment has drawn criticism from the ERC party regarding linguistic representation.
“"Sant Jordi is the day of culture and literature. The City Council organizes a proclamation that, since Jaume Collboni became mayor, has never been performed by an author in the Catalan language."
This marks the third consecutive year that a non-Catalan speaker has been chosen for the role, following David Walliams in 2024 and Cristina Rivera Garza in 2025. Critics point out that the opening of Sant Jordi carries significant symbolic weight for local culture and literature.
