Full Breakdown
Dua Lipa Unveils the Manifesto Library, a Banned-Books Collection in Porto
6/27/2026, 11:19:37 AM
Manifesto Library Opens at Livraria Lello
On 27 June 2026, Dua Lipa opened the Manifesto Library inside Livraria Lello’s new cultural auditorium in Porto, Portugal, as part of the BABELL – City of Books festival. The permanent collection holds 100 titles that have been banned, challenged, or restricted.
Background
Lipa founded the Service95 Book Club in 2021 to connect writers and readers globally. Livraria Lello, a historic Portuguese bookstore founded in 1906, partners on the project, reinforcing its long-standing belief that books enable freedom.
Design
The auditorium was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza. Francisca Pedro Pinto, Head of Brand at Livraria Lello, described the library as extending the shop’s 120-year conviction that “the book is a technology of freedom.”
Collection
The 100 books are grouped under power, control, voice and memory. Selections include Margaret Atwood’s *The Handmaid’s Tale*, Reginald Dwayne Betts’s *Felon*, and works by Salman Rushdie and Olga Tokarczuk, each previously banned or restricted for race, sexuality, LGBTQIA+ content, or political reasons.
Official Statements
Lipa said the library aims to be a home for readers and a shrine to books that have been silenced, while Livraria Lello emphasized that the project continues its mission to protect freedom of expression.
Impact
By publicly displaying banned titles, the library challenges recent censorship trends in schools and offers a venue for debate, reinforcing the principle that unrestricted access to diverse narratives underpins democratic societies.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When I founded the Service95 Book Club, my ambition was for it to become a home for writers and readers, wherever they are and whatever their circumstances. Reading the world brings us closer — but sadly, not everyone is in favor of that,” — Dua Lipa, statement
- “Here you will find one hundred books that ask questions, or have been questioned. Some have been banned by school districts for themes of race or sexuality. Others, written for LGBTQIA+ readers, have been restricted from display. In some cases, the author has paid for their words with their life.” — Dua Lipa, statement
- “This library is a shrine to books that have disappeared, to authors whose courage unmasks structures of power and control, and to readers who refuse to be told what book they are allowed to read.” — Dua Lipa, statement
- “For 120 years, Livraria Lello has been built on a simple conviction: the book is a technology of freedom. The Manifesto Library grows from that belief,” — Francisca Pedro Pinto, Head of Brand, Livraria Lello
What's Next
The library will stay open after BABELL, hosting author talks and panels. Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie and other contributors are slated to attend the opening weekend, ensuring ongoing public engagement.
