International book fairs around the world

Speaking of international book fairs, our curiosity, which is generally greater than is healthy, provoked us to dig around the internet a bit and look for the largest international book fairs in the world.

And since it turned out that there are not a few of them, we decided to arrange them in chronological order according to the month in which they are held, with the caveat that we are far from exhausted on the topic.

January

New Delhi World Book Fair, New Delhi, India

The oldest fair in India and the third largest market for English-language literature. The forum began in 1972 and, except for its first edition, has been held at Pragati Maidan to this day. Attendance is around 1,000, with a slight decline in recent years. Organized by the National Book Trust, India.

Cairo International Book Fair, Cairo, Egypt

This is the largest and oldest fair in the Arab world. It was founded in 1969 and is held on the last weekend of January. The Cairo International Fair Grounds in Nasr City attracts over two million visitors. It is organized by the Egyptian American Book Organization.

International Kolkata Book Fair, Kolkata, India

The largest fair that does not have an inter-publisher trade purpose. It was founded in 1976 by a group of young publishers who wondered how to grow their business. Today, the fair is organized on the last Wednesday of January and lasts for 12 days, with more than two million visitors. The event is an important part of the cultural character of the region along with the Kolkata Literary Festival. Each year, the folklore of a different country is the main theme of the events and the vision.

February

Feria Internacional del Libro La Habana, Havana, Cuba

Yes, Cuba! So don’t be surprised that its main purpose is to promote books approved by the government. The fair began in 1982 and was held every two years until 2000, then became an annual event. It covers the whole of Cuba and features not only book stalls, but also exhibitions, readings, concerts, and children’s activities. The high literacy rate among the Cuban population is a great source of pride for the Revolution.

Taipei International Book Exhibition, Taipei, Taiwan

The fair, which focuses on copyright and international distribution, was founded in 1987. It is organized by the Taipei Book Fair Foundation. Among the most significant exhibitions during the event is the Taipei International Book Exhibition.

March

Bangkok International Book Fair, Bangkok, Thailand

It is difficult to distinguish between the National Book Fair (since 1972) and the Bangkok International Book Fair (since 2002) because the two events have merged. The main organizer is the Association of Book Publishers and Distributors of Thailand.

Leipziger Buchmesse, Leipzig, Germany

This is the second international book fair in Germany and dates back to 1632. It mainly aims to “melt” the distance between readers and authors, and awards two of the most important German awards in the world of books – the Leipzig Book Fair Prize and the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding.

April

Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Bologna, Italy

The icing on the cake in the world of children’s books. Publishers, agents, writers and illustrators from all over the world gather at the Bologna Fierre in late March – early April every year since 1963. The MOST important awards in the world are also presented here – the Bologna Ragazzi Awards, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and the Hans Christian Andersen Awards.

London Book Fair, London, England

Started as The Specialist Publishers Exhibition for Librarians (SPEX) in 1971 to help small retailers reach libraries, the London Book Fair is the hub of the publishing business in Europe. Some say that London opens the book year in the spring, while Frankfurt closes it in the autumn.

Buenos Aires International Book Fair, Buenos Aires, Argentina

This is the largest book fair in South America and in the top 5 in the world. It was founded in 1975 and is organized by Fundación El Libro. More than 1,200,000 visitors from all over the world and nearly 500 exhibitors fill the Argentine Rural Society. For three weeks, the fair is also open to the public.

Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, Abu Dhabi, UAE

You may not believe it, but this fair is gaining popularity among booksellers. Founded in 1981, it succeeds its predecessor, the Islamic Book Fair. One of the main goals of the event, which hosts nearly 600 publishers, is to create an attractive and artistic cultural program in the style of the Middle East.

May

BookExpo America (BEA), USA

City? There is none! This exhibition is presented in various major cities in the USA, such as Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, etc. We can say that it began in 1947 as the American Booksellers Association Convention and Trade Show. Today, the largest American exhibition attracts mainly domestic publishers, although there are also many foreign representatives.

BookCon, Chicago, USA

The youngest fair on our list – 2014. Started in New York and moved to Chicago, this is a two-day fan festival, which, however, is also highly appreciated by many famous writers and publishers.

June

ALA Annual Conference, Orlando, USA

Organized by the American Library Association, the annual conference is primarily aimed at librarians, but also invites authors, publishers, marketers, teachers, and students.

Seoul International Book Fair, Seoul, Korea

Started as the Educational Book Exhibition in 1947, today it is an international book fair, this is the Korean equivalent of Bologna. The two forums work together and since 2008 the books from the Bologna Ragazzi Awards have been presented in a special exhibition. The Illustrators' Wall is also here.

July

Hong Kong Book Fair, Hong Kong, China

The fair has been organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council since 1990. In an effort to promote reading and books, the forum is open to the public and books are for sale. The exhibition also includes the sale of copyrights, printed materials and services, and digital media.

Comic-Con International, San Diego, California, USA

The largest book forum in pop culture. It includes comics, animation, manga, board and video games, webcomics and what not. And don't think that this is a 21st century fad, comic-con started back in 1970 under the name Golden State Comic Book Convention.

August

Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), Beijing, China

One of the most important fairs in Asia. Founded in 1994, the Chinese forum focuses on international copyright, giving foreign traders the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the local publishing market.

September

Open Book Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (South African Book Fair, Johannesburg, South Africa)

The fair began as a collaboration between the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Publishers Association of South Africa (PASA) in 2011. Each year, the Fugard Theatre hosts the most important international book festival for sub-Saharan Africa. More than 100 events and more than 100 authors visit the southern country.

Tokyo International Book Fair (TIBF), Tokyo, Japan

The largest book fair in Japan was founded in 1993. Nearly 500 exhibitors and more than 40,000 visitors fill Tokyo Big Sight. It brings together various sectors of the book industry under one roof – children’s books, picture books, textbooks and reference books, non-fiction books, scientific publications, and more.

Moscow International Book Fair, Moscow, Russia

Started in 1985, this is the largest international book fair in Russia. More than 600 publishers are represented, half of them Russian. The program of events is also rich - workshops, presentations, conferences and master classes.

October

Frankfurter Buchmesse, Frankfurt, Germany

It is considered the largest international book fair in the world. It was founded in 1454, and its modern version dates back to 1949. Several important awards are presented during the event: the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade and the Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Title of the Year. The first three days are for publishers and traders only, while the last two are open to the public and books are sold.

Liber International Book Fair, Barcelona/Madrid, Spain

A biennial fair exclusively for industry professionals. It varies between Barcelona and Madrid. Founded in 1993, this is a relatively small forum compared to most on the list – around 150 exhibitors and just over 5,000 visitors.

November

Guadalajara International Book Fair, Guadalajara, Mexico

Also known as FIL (Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara), this forum has grown rapidly, becoming the second largest fair for the Spanish-speaking community after the one in Buenos Aires. Open to both the industry and visitors, with a full 9-day festival program. Founded in 1987, it is organized by the University of Guadalajara.

China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair, Shanghai, China

A very young fair that has officially announced that it will run alongside the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Completely focused on children’s literature, founded in 2013, the event aims to develop international publishing in China.

December

Sofia International Book Fair, Sofia, Bulgaria

In 1967, the fair started with a bang and developed until 1988. After the 1990s, the international focus dropped sharply. Nearly 100 Bulgarian publishing houses participate in the bazaar, which is entirely commercial in nature. The main organizer is the Bulgarian Association of Book Publishers, and the venue is the National Palace of Culture. Since 2013, the program has also included the Sofia International Literary Festival as a separate unit.

Text: Milena Radeva

Sources: wikipedia and the websites of each of the fairs