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International Book Fairs 2004

We have updated our list of book fairs for the New Year, including a few more which seemed worth adding to the list. Some annual fairs seem to have been cancelled for this year, but we will revise this list as more information becomes available.

 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 many of them 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.

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.

2004 Book Fairs

Taipei International Book Exhibition 28 January - 3 February www.tibe.tw

Described as the gateway to Asia, the 2002 event had 300,000 visitors and 47 nations were represented.

Havana International Book Fair 5-15 February www.cubaliteraris.com

ePubLondon  11-12 March  www.epubLondon.co.uk

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

Europe’s premier international spring book fair, increasingly seen as the prime book fair for the first half of the year, balancing the Frankfurt Book Fair in the second half. British publishers are out in force, but this fair now attracts visitors from all over the world. 22,000 visitors in 2002, one-third from overseas. Accompanied by programme of workshops and seminars, including open access publishing, Africa's publishing in the global economy, and copyright.

Salon du Livre 19-24 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. In 2004 1800 authors and 1200 publishers are expected to attend and it will be the 'year of China'.

Leipzig Book Fair  25-28 March  www.leipziger-buchmess.de

Milia  31 March-2 April Moved to the spring. Bringing together content decision-makers from the worlds of digital entertainment, Internet, mobile and Interactive. www.milia.com

Bangkok International Book Fair 26 March-6 April www.bangkokibf.com

A fairly new international book fair organised by the Thai Publishers and Booksellers Association.  Free admission to the public.

Asia International Book Fair  April - dates to be confirmed  www.reedexpo.com.sg

The only trade event that serves Asia's book and library trade, enabling booksellers and library professionals to source all their needs under one roof.

Bologna Children’s Book Fair 14-17 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 and a great location in the lovely Italian city of Bologna.This year there's a global learning initiative and illustrators' exhibition.  ww.bookfair.bolognafiere.it

Tokyo International Book Fair 22-25 April http://web.reedexpo.co.jp/tibf/english/

Big event for Asian book trade.

Bookworld Prague 6-9 May http://www.bookworld.cz/

Cultural and business event organised by the Czech Booksellers and Publishers.

International Book Festival, Budapest 22-25 April http://www.mkke.hu/festival/

Cultural events and conferences on issues affecting the book trade. 60,000 visitors in 2002, with 500 exhibitors from 30 countries.  www.mkke.hu

Baltic Book Fair 13-15 May  www.litexpo.lt

Many cultural events.  

Tehran International Book Fair 4-14 May  www.tibf.co.ir

General public’s festival of books, attended in 2002 by 2 million people.  The dates are set, but it is not clear what will be happening this year.

Nigeria International Book Fair 8-12 May  www.nibf.org

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

Warsaw International Book Fair 20-23 May bookfair.pl

Australian Book Fair Sydney  Australia’s national book fair, large public attendance. www.bookfair.com.au

BookExpo America  Chicago 4-6 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. The 2003 event had 31,726 professionals attending and 6,684 booksellers. 

There will be additional programmes this year, including an educational programme, but it is not yet clear whether the author event will be repeated. www.bookexpoamerica.com

Seoul International Book Fair 4-9 June http://www.sibf.co.kr/

Increasingly important internationally.

BookExpo Canada 13-14 June www.reed-expo.ca/bookexpo/

Canada’s leading event for the book publishing industry

American Library Association Conference 24-30 June www.ala.org

London Remainder and Promotional Book Fair Bristol 27-28 June  www.ciana.co.uk

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

Moscow International Book Fair 1-6 September www.bookfair.ru

Beijing International Book Fair 2-6 September  www.bibf.net

Important fair for publishers from all over the world who are interested in getting into the booming Chinese market.  Now moved back to the autumn.

London Remainder and Promotional Book Fair London  12-13 September  www.ciana.co.uk

Goteborg International Book Fair  23-26 September  www.goteborg-bookfair.com

Biggest meeting-point for Scandinavian literature, attracting authors and the media as well as the trade.  108,000 visitors last year

Frankfurt Book Fair 5-8 October http://www.frankfurt-book-fair.com

This is 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.

This year the Fair will close on the Sunday evening and the experiment of staying open late on the Friday evening will not be repeated.

Salon du Livre, Montreal  18-22 November www.salondulivredemontreal.com

Feria International del Libro de Guadalajar  Mexico 27 November-5 December  www.fil.com.mx

Latin American book fair.