At Guadalajara Book Fair, Audible Cites Demand for Spanish-Language Audio

Audible’s commitment to bringing more Spanish-language storytelling to audio was the focus of our presence at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, the most important publishing event in Ibero-America. Audible has been bringing Spanish-language content to customers for more than 20 years, offering listeners the world’s largest catalog of Spanish-language audiobooks, and yet in many ways, we’re just getting started. That’s because there are 486 million native Spanish speakers globally, but only about 50,000 audio titles available in their language, signaling immense opportunity.

Daniel Cladera, Audible’s Director of Publisher Relations for Spain and Latin America, pointed out in his keynote remarks that while audiobooks remain the fastest-growing segment in publishing—expanding at an annual rate of 25 percent worldwide—an astonishing 97 percent of the world’s books are not yet available in audio. To close this gap, Audible is working alongside our creative community on innovative solutions. Those solutions include enabling AI narration and translation for publishers in order to bring English-language titles to Spanish-speaking audiences, with optional human review to ensure cultural authenticity. “This means more earnings for creators and more choices for listeners,” said Cladera.

The appetite for Spanish-language content is evident. The 2025 Audible Compass research reveals that 82 percent of respondents in Mexico and 77 percent in Spain reported consuming audiobooks, podcasts and audio series. What’s more, 80 percent of Mexican listeners and 73 percent of Spanish listeners expressed excitement about authors creating audio-first content.

In addition to demonstrating appetite, the research indicates the rise in audiobook consumption is a win for print publishing as well. Cladera shared that 85 percent of audiobook listeners in Mexico and Spain are also active readers of print and/or digital books, and in both countries, over 90 percent of listeners report that audiobooks enable them to explore new genres and authors they might not have otherwise considered. Notably, 84 percent of Mexico’s listeners reported purchasing physical books after experiencing the audio version, suggesting that audio content serves as a powerful driver for bookstore sales.

In other words, the rising tide in audio lifts all of publishing’s boats. In fact, 91 percent of Mexican and 82 percent of Spanish listeners report engaging with audio versions of stories they’ve encountered in other media formats, signaling that storytelling across multiple formats amplifies opportunities for publishers and authors across the board.

Of course, the rise of audio has also been a boon for narrators and performers, which we discussed in a panel called “Reading, Narrating or Acting? The Voice and Its Impact on Audio Work.” Audible’s Senior Director of Spanish-Language Original Content, Manny Miravete, was joined by top audiobook producers, narrators and creators as they explored the differences between reading, narrating and acting; the use of AI in voice-over work and its impact on the industry; and what writers, producers and publishers expect from the voices that tell their stories.

At the end of the day, attendees gathered for a fireside chat with acclaimed actor Gael García Bernal about storytelling with Audible. García Bernal’s production company, La Corriente del Golfo, which he runs with fellow star Diego Luna, has co-produced several Audible Originals with us that highlight lesser-known parts of Mexican history and culture while having global appeal. These include a compelling drama about an unknown and unlikely hero, Hilde Krüger, a German actress-turned-spy operating in Mexico during World War II. García Bernal said he was drawn to audio’s unique ability to bring stories to life in immersive, intimate ways, and echoed Audible’s emphasis on offering Spanish-language listeners a wide range of stories that will illuminate, educate and entertain.

Fue un placer, Guadalajara! We look forward to returning next year and continuing to work with the world’s leading creators and publishers to bring more Spanish-language storytelling to listeners.