International Book Fairs 2008

A large number of international book fairs are held throughout the year. Most of these are primarily intended as trade fairs for the book trade, but an increasing number have extensive programmes of cultural events and opportunities to meet authors. Some set out to attract the general public, others have particular days when the public can get in.

Although they're not really intended for authors, the book fairs are worth researching, as you may find that there is one you can get to. The benefits are the vast array of new and forthcoming books on display, the seminars, conferences and author events which may be planned, and the chance to see the publishing world in action.

John Makinson, CEO of Penguin, on the enduring appeal of book fairs: 'Yet we keep going, if we're honest, because the publishing industry is a community and it thrives on personal contact - the chance encounter, the hurried drink and the languid lunch. And as communication in our business becomes ever more electronic, that personal contact seems more vital. So my guess is that book fairs will continue to grow and grow.'

Last year's list of book fairs has been updated for 2008, including a few more new ones. The information becomes sketchier towards the end of the year, and some annual fairs seem to have been cancelled for this year. We will try to revise this list as more information becomes available, but for now please note that the asterisks show last year's date (and the new dates will mostly be around the same time).

2008 Book Fairs

Taipei International Fair 13 -18 February www.tibe.tw

Jerusalem Book Fair 

15 - 20 February  www.jerusalembookfair.com

Baltic Book Fair 28 February - 2 March  www.litexpo.lt 

The 2008 Baltic Book Fair will be held at the International Exhibition Centre, Riga, Latvia.

New Delhi World Book Fair 2 - 10 February

The Fair not only offers a glimpse of the multi-lingual publishing industry in India, which has developed substantially in recent years, but also meets the needs of the vast Indian book market. www.fiponweb.com/events3.htm

Leipzig Book Fair  13 - 16 March  www.leipziger-buchmess.de

127,500 visitors at the 2007 Fair.

Salon du Livre 14-19 March http://salondulivreparis.com

The French book fair, an elegant meeting-point for the book trade with a large number of meetings and many events organised for the public.

Abu Dhabi Book Fair 11 - 16 March

Attended by 200,00 visitors, is being grown to attract an international and trade audience.  The Sheikh Zayed Awards are announced during the Fair. Sponsored by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage in cooperation with Frankfurter Buchmesse. www.adbookfair.com/abudhabi/en/index.php

London Book Fair 14 - 16 April  http://www.lbf-virtual.com/

Europe’s premier international spring book fair, increasingly seen as the key book fair for the first half of the year, balancing the Frankfurt Book Fair in the second half. British publishers are of course out in force, but this fair now attracts visitors from all over the world. The second year in  Earls Court.

Bologna Children’s Book Fair 31 March 1 April http://www.bookfair.bolognafiere.

The top international children’s book fair, attended by children’s publishers from all over the world. Many feel that this is the best book fair of them all, graced by a relaxed atmosphere, wonderful food and a great location in the lovely Italian city of Bologna.  www.bookfair.bolognafiere.it

Bangkok International Book Fair 28 March  - 10 April www.bangkokibf.com

Surely one of the longest international book fairs, this is organised by the Thai Publishers and Booksellers Association.  Free admission to the public.

Milia  3 - 7 April  Bringing together content decision-makers from the worlds of digital entertainment, Internet, mobile and Interactive, this is the biggest international gathering of its kind. www.milia.com

Budapest International Book Festival 24 - 27 April www.mkke.hu/

Cultural events and conferences on issues affecting the book trade. 

Warsaw International Book Fair 15-18 May www.bookfair.pl

Nigeria International Book Fair 7 - 12 May* www.nibf.org

Designed to give existing and prospective publishers and booksellers the opportunity of exploring and exploiting the country's book market. 

BookExpo America  Los Angeles 30 May - 1 June

Primarily a trade fair which enables American publishers to show booksellers their fall lists, this big fair has been through many vicissitudes, but is currently seen as rather less of an international fair, although the fair authorities are trying to reverse this trend and have developed a programme for writers which is worth investigating. www.bookexpoamerica.com

BookExpo Canada in Toronto 13 - 15 June www.reed-expo.ca/bookexpo/

Canada’s leading event for the book publishing industry

Cape Town Book Fair  14 - 17 June www.capetownfair.com

Following on from its inaugural fair last year, this is hoping to establish this as the big African event. A combined trade fair and literary event open to the public.

American Library Association Conference in Anaheim

  26 June 2 July www.ala.org

Tokyo International Book Fair 10-13 July http://web.reedexpo.co.jp/tibf/english/

Big event for Asian book trade, giving access to the world's second biggest book market. In 2007 it had 749 exhibitors from 29 countries and regions, and attracted 55,943 visitors.

Hong Kong Book Fair 

23 - 29 July  www.hkbookfair.com

Over 763,545 visitors in 2007, this is now becoming one of the big ones.

Beijing International Book Fair 1 - 4  September  www.bibf.net

Important fair for publishers from all over the world who are interested in getting into the booming Chinese market, this has rapidly established itself as an essential stop on the international rights circuit. It will have a new venue for this year.

Moscow International Book Fair 3 -8 September  www.bookfair.ru

Much earlier in the year than in 2006.

London Remainder and Promotional Book Fair 14 - 15 September   www.ciana.co.uk

Thousands of remainder and bargain books – not for the faint-hearted author! 

Goteborg International Book Fair  25 - 28 September www.goteborg-bookfair.com

Biggest meeting-point for Scandinavian literature, attracting authors and the media as well as the trade. 

Frankfurt Book Fair 15-19 October http://www.frankfurt-book-fair.com

This is still the big one, the premier international book fair which is attended by publishers from all over the world and is also open to the German public for some of the time.  This huge fair is a meeting-place and rights marketplace for the global publishing industry, but it is a trade fair and there's not much for authors except in the German halls.

(See our Inside Publishing article on the Frankfurt Book Fair.)

Istanbul Book Fair, Turkey

15 - 19 October  www.tuyap.com

Salon du Livre, Montreal  19 - 24 November www.salondulivredemontreal.com

Feria International del Libro de Guadalajara  Mexico 29 November - 7 December. This is supposed to be the largest Spanish book event in the world. www.fil.com.mx