2005 International Book Fairs
Listings
Our list of book fairs has been updated for the New Year, including a few more new ones. 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.
2005 Book Fairs
Rotterdam Book Festival
20-23 January
Cairo International Book Fair
26 January - 8 February http://www.cibf.org/en/index.cfm
Havana International Book Fair
3 -13 February www.cubaliteraria.com
New Delhi World Book Fair
14 - 27 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
Taipei International Book Exhibition
15 -20 February www.tibe.tw
Described as the gateway to Asia, the 2002 event had 300,000 visitors and 47 nations were represented.
Baltic Book Fair
3 - 6 March www.litexpo.lt
London Book Fair
13 - 15 March 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 FairWorld's largest trade fair for books; held annually mid-October at Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany; First three days exclusively for trade visitors; general public can attend last two. in the second half. British publishers are of course out in force, but this fair now attracts visitors from all over the world. 22,000 visitors in 2002, one-third from overseas. Moving to a larger site in London's Docklands in 2006.
Leipzig Book Fair
17 - 20 March www.leipziger-buchmess.de
25th Salon du Livre
18 - 23 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.
Bangkok International Book Fair
25 March - 6 April www.bangkokibf.com
An international book fair organised by the Thai Publishers and Booksellers Association. Free admission to the public.
Jerusalem International Book Fair
3 - 8 April www.jerusalembookfair.com
Milia
11 - 15 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
Bologna Children’s Book Fair
13 - 16 April http://www.bookfair.bolognafiere.
Still worth attending, this is 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
Budapest
12th International Book Festival 21 - 24 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
Tehran International Book Fair
1 - 10 May www.tibf.co.ir
General public’s festival of books, attended in 2002 by 2 million people. The Fair may be cancelled again this year.
Prague
International Book Fair 5 - 8 May http://www.bookworld.cz/
Cultural and business event organised by the Czech Booksellers and Publishers.
Warsaw International Book Fair
9 - 22 May bookfair.pl
Nigeria International Book Fair
10 - 14 May www.nibf.org
Designed to give existing and prospective publishers and booksellers the opportunity of exploring and exploiting the country's book market. Focusing on indigenous publishing in 2005.
Australian Book Fair Sydney
Australia’s national book fair, large public attendance. Cancelled in 2004, it is not clear whether it will be reinstated in 2005. 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. It has 2000 exhibitors, 500 authors and 100 conference sessions. www.bookexpoamerica.com
Seoul International Book Fair
4-9 June http://www.sibf.co.kr/
Increasingly important internationally.
BookExpo Canada
24 - 27 June www.reed-expo.ca/bookexpo/
Canada’s leading event for the book publishing industry
American Library Association Conference
25 - 28 June www.ala.org
Tokyo International Book Fair
7 - 10 July http://web.reedexpo.co.jp/tibf/english/
Big event for Asian book trade, giving access to the world's second biggest book market.
London Remainder and Promotional Book Fair
11 - 12 September at the Business Design Centre, Islington. 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
1 - 5 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.
Goteborg International Book Fair
29 September - 2 October www.goteborg-bookfair.com
Biggest meeting-point for Scandinavian literature, attracting authors and the media as well as the trade. Last year's focus on British literature and authors was a great success, in 2005 the focus will be on Lithuania.
Frankfurt Book Fair
19 - 23 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.
This year the Fair will be held unusually late in October. Korea will be the Guest of Honour.
(See our Inside Publishing article on the Frankfurt Book Fair.)
Salon du Livre, Montreal
17 - 21 November www.salondulivredemontreal.com
Feria International del Libro de Guadalajar Mexico
26 November - 4 December.
This is supposed to be the largest Spanish book event in the world. www.fil.com.mx
Moscow International Book Fair
30 November - 5 December www.expopark.ru
Copyright © 2005 WritersServices.com