10 World-famous book fairs

Even in this era of technological advancement, books remain the primary medium of knowledge. The appeal of books will never fade. Books embody the waves of wisdom and stand as timeless treasures. The pages of books contain the history of the world, civilization, and culture. Literature, art, and creativity find their best expression in books. Across the world, book fairs are held to celebrate books, bringing together writers, readers, and publishers. A book fair is a festival of intellectual and cultural enrichment. For writers, readers, publishers, and the printing industry, book fairs hold immense significance. Below is a discussion on 10 of the most renowned book fairs in the world.

Since the Amar Ekushey Book Fair holds a special place in the hearts of Bengalis and is considered the "fair of the soul," it is mentioned first in this feature.

1. Amar Ekushey Book Fair (Bangladesh)

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair is dedicated to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on February 21, 1952, to uphold the dignity of their language. A book fair commemorating language martyrs is a rare event in world history. The foundation of this fair dates back to February 21, 1972, when the publishing house Muktadhara began selling books in front of the Bangla Academy in Dhaka. Other publishers gradually joined, and the fair took its current form. Since 1978, the Bangla Academy has been officially organizing the fair, which spans the entire month of February. It is one of the largest book fairs in Asia, held at Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan.

The fair features a permanent "Nazrul Mancha" for cultural programs throughout the month and a "Lekhok Bolchhi" (Writers' Talk) stage, where authors discuss their works. The fair evokes deep emotions in writers, readers, and publishers and has significantly contributed to the cultural identity of the Bengali language.

In 2024, the fair saw 60 crore BDT (approximately 6 million USD) in book sales, with 3,751 new books published. The 2025 Amar Ekushey Book Fair is set to begin on February 1.

2. Frankfurt Book Fair (Germany)
The Frankfurt Book Fair is considered the largest commercial book fair in the world. It has been held in Frankfurt, Germany, for several centuries. Historically, its origins date back to the 12th century, but it was officially recognized in 1462. The fair was revived after World War II in 1949 and now attracts around 300,000 visitors.

This five-day event is held in mid-October at the Frankfurt Trade Fair Ground. It is divided into three sections:

1. For publishers and exhibitors

2. For general readers and buyers

3. For business networking

A unique feature of this fair is the "Guest of Honor" program, where a specific country is honored each year. Nations compete for this prestigious recognition. France, Georgia, Norway, and Canada have been recent guests of honor.

The 76th Frankfurt Book Fair took place in October 2024 under the slogan "Frankfurt Calling", featuring 650 events across 15 stages with over 1,000 authors and speakers.

3. London Book Fair (United Kingdom)
The London Book Fair is the second-largest book fair in the world. It began on November 5, 1971, and now includes participants from over 100 countries. The fair is held annually in mid-April and attracts about 25,000 visitors, including European publishers, booksellers, and literary agents.

Since 2015, it has been hosted at Olympia Exhibition Centre in London. Spanning two hectares, the fair runs for three days, featuring over 200 events with renowned speakers, discussions, and Q&A sessions. Key sections include:

Authors' HQ

Children’s Hub

Cross-Cultural Hub

Two major highlights are the "Authors of the Day" and "Illustrator of the Fair" programs.

4. BookExpo America (USA)
This fair began in 1947 in Washington, D.C., under the name "American Booksellers Association Convention and Trade Show." It was renamed "BookExpo America" in 1971 and was held annually in major U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.

However, since 2020, the event has been indefinitely suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, "US Book Show" was launched in 2021 as a virtual event by Publishers Weekly.

5. Kolkata International Book Fair (India)
The Kolkata International Book Fair is the largest non-commercial book fair in the world (where only readers, not wholesalers, buy books). It is also Asia’s largest and the third-largest book fair globally.

First held in 1976, it received international recognition in 1984. The fair spans 12 days, beginning on the last Wednesday of January at Kolkata's Central Park. In 2023, the fair recorded 27 crore INR in book sales with 949 stalls.

Each year, a "Theme Country" is selected, with Germany being the focal country in 2024. Unfortunately, for the first time in history, Bangladesh will not have a pavilion at the 48th Kolkata International Book Fair, which runs until February 9, 2024.

6. Cairo International Book Fair (Egypt)
The Cairo International Book Fair is the oldest and largest book fair in the Arab world. First organized in 1969 to commemorate Cairo’s 1,000-year anniversary, it is held annually in late January at the Cairo International Fair Ground.

The 55th edition (2024) began on January 25, covering 80,000 square meters, with 77 countries and 1,200 publishers participating. The fair, which runs until February 6, 2024, features over 550 cultural and literary events.

7. Moscow International Book Fair (Russia)
Held since 1977, this fair takes place at the Moscow Exhibition Center from September 3-7 each year, featuring books from Russian and international publishers.

8. Bologna Children’s Book Fair (Italy)
Dedicated to children’s literature, this fair has been held in Bologna, Italy, since 1963. It occurs for four days in March or April, attracting publishers, authors, and illustrators specializing in children’s books, films, and animations. The fair hosts awards in four categories for excellence in children’s media.

9. Guadalajara International Book Fair (Mexico)
Since 1987, the Guadalajara International Book Fair has been a major event for Spanish-language publications. Held in late November to early December, it covers 40,000 square meters, attracting 1,200+ publishers from 50 countries and 10,000+ visitors daily.

10. Hong Kong Book Fair (Hong Kong)
Launched in 1990, the Hong Kong Book Fair is organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council every July at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. It promotes affordable books for the public and is a hub for international book trade. A unique feature is a dedicated Comics Fair, reflecting the popularity of comic books in Hong Kong.

Apart from these, many smaller book fairs take place worldwide, each with its own linguistic and structural uniqueness.

Author: Shahadat Hossain Touhid