2014 International Book Fairs
Listings
Here is our annual update of the international book fairs which will be held in 2014. Most of these are primarily intended as trade fairs for the book trade, but an ever-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, most important of all, the chance to see the publishing world in action. Increasingly the book world is aware of the improtance of self-publishing authors as part of the mix and if you are publishing your own book it is well worth thinking seriously about going to one or more book fairs.
Last year the Bookseller said: 'the trade fair is changing as publishing becomes more global and new markets become ever more crucial... with a number of fairs rising in importance, from the gulf region (Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai) and South America (Buenos Aires) to Asia ( Taipei, Hong Kong) to name but a few.'
The list of book fairs has been updated for 2014, including a few more new ones. The information becomes sketchier towards the end of the year. Updates and new additions would be welcome, please email them to us.
2014 Book Fairs
Vilnius/Baltic Book Fair
31 January - 2 February The 2014 Baltic Book Fair will again be held in Vilnius.
http://2014.vilniausknygumuge.lt/en
Jerusalem International Book Fair
10 - 15 February. Has unique Editorial Fellowship Programme.
New Delhi World Book Fair
15 - 23 February http://www.newdelhiworldbookfair.gov.in/
Taipei International Book Exhibition
This doesn't seem to be running this year.
Abu Dhabi Book Fair
24 - 29 April
Sponsored by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage as a joint venture with 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..
Leipzig Book Fair
13 - 16 March
Leipzig Reads, part of the Book Fair, is Europe's biggest festival of literature and will have 2,400 events.
Salon du Livre, Paris
18 - 21 March. The 33rd French book fair, an elegant meeting-point for the book trade with a large number of meetings and many events organised for the public.
http://www.salondulivreparis.com/
Bologna Children's Book Fair
24 -27 March. 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. It will be four days again this year, following protests when it was only three. www.bookfair.bolognafiere.it
Bangkok International Book Fair
28 March - 8 April
No website apparently.
Alexandrina International Book Fair , Alexandria, Egypt
27 March to 8 Aprl . The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is organising its Ninth Alexandrina International Book Fair.
www.bibalex.org/bookfair/bookfair_en.aspx
MIPTV
7 - 10 April. Billed as 'bringing together content decision-makers from the worlds of digital entertainment, Internet, mobile and Interactive', this fair in Cannes is the biggest international gathering of its kind and attracts entertainment professionals from 100 countries, as well as having 11,000 attendees. http://www.miptv.com/
London Book Fair
This will take place at Earl's Court this year for the last time and will then move back to Olympia, after something of a battle by publishers to avoid it going back to ExCel in Docklands. Effectively Europe's premier international spring book fair, claims to be 'the world's premier publishing and cultural capital'. 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 naturally out in force, but this fair now attracts visitors from all over the world. http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/
Budapest International Book Festival
Date not yet confirmed.
With cultural events and conferences on issues affecting the book trade. http://www.bookfestival.hu/
Thessaloniki International Book Fair
No information available, may not be happening this year.
Tehran International Book Fair
30 April - 10 May. Expected to attract 2,500 domestic and 1700 foreign publishers.
Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
30 April - 5 May
Still working to make this fair the leading event for the Arab book world. Having achieved achieved a 32% increase in visitors in 2010, it is continuing to try to increase its exhibitor space and expecting a more international and a more diverse group of visitors this year. There is financial support for publishers doing Arab language rights deals. Sponsored by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage as a joint venture with the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Bookworld Prague
16 - 19 May Guest of Honour Hungary. http://www.svetknihy.cz/en/menu/
Warsaw International Book Fair
22 - 25 May http://www.targi-ksiazki.waw.pl/en/
BookExpo America
New York 28 - 31 May
Primarily a trade fair which enables American publishers to show booksellers their fall lists, this will be in New York again this year. Showcasing hundreds of authors, with 1500+ exhibitors. There is a big programme for writers which is worth investigating and self-publishers are increasingly catered for. This year BEABookExpo America, commonly referred to within the book publishing industry as BEA. The largest annual book trade fair in the United States is officially welcoming "entrepreneurial authors" to the convention floor with a new Author Hub that will provide meeting tables, a lounge and a small presentation space in a dedicated section of the main exhibition space. More information on BookExpo will be available closer to the time. www.bookexpoamerica.com
Cape Town Book Fair
No details available - may not be running this year.
American Library Association Conference
Date and venue not yet announced. www.ala.org
Tokyo International Book Fair
2 - 5 July Claims to be Asia's leading bok fair. Big event for Asian book trade, giving access to the world's second biggest book market. http://www.bookfair.jp/en/
Hong Kong Book Fair
16 - 22 July 560 exhibitors from 30 countries & regions, with more than 400 cultural events involving nearly 250,000 participants. This is now becoming one of the big ones, justified by the domestic market ( a study shows that 60% of the people of Hong Kong spend more than 5 hours a week reading). http://hkbookfair.hktdc.com/en/index.aspx
Beijing International Book Fair
27 - 31 August 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. www.bibf.net
Moscow International Book Fair
Starts 3 September. Not many details available yet.
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! Admission only for trade visitors.
Goteborg International Book Fair
25 - 28 September
Biggest meeting-point for Scandinavian literature, attracting authors and the media as well as the trade. Many international exhibitors, seminar programme and bills itself as an international literary festival. Brazil in focus this year.www.bok-bibliotek.se
Frankfurt Book Fair
8 - 10 October
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. http://www.frankfurt-book-fair.com
(See our Inside Publishing article on the Frankfurt Book Fair, recently revised)
Toronto International Antiquarian Book Fair
The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of Canada's international antiquarian book fair featuring distinguished booksellers from around the world. An opportunity to peruse and purchase rare, antiquarian and collectible books from many of the world's foremost booksellers.
http://www.torontoantiquarianbookfair.com
Salon du Livre, Montreal
19 - 24 November, with 120,00 visitors expected.
www.salondulivredemontreal.com
China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair
New children's book fair, for which this will be the second year, building on the enormous interest in children's publishing throughout the world, but especially in Asia. http://www.ccbookfair.com/en/
Sharjah International Book Fair
'For the love of the written world' is its motto. Over i million visitors last year. No dates yet for this year but possibly it will be in November.
Feria International del Libro de Guadalajara
Mexico 29 November - 3 December. This is supposed to be the largest Spanish book event in the world, with more than 20,000 professionals and 700,000 visitors. www.fil.com.mx/ingles/i_default.asp