2015 International Book Fairs
Listings
Here is our annual update of the international book fairs which will be held in 2015. 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 from the beginning, 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. During 2014 various book fairs expanded their activities for self-publishers, as the book world is increasingly aware of the growth indie publishing. If you are publishing your own book it is well worth thinking seriously about going to one or more book fairs.
Some of the new book fairs are particularly interesting and the growth of children's publishing is shown by the new fairs such as the second Shanghai International Children's Book Fair, which was a considerable success.
The list of book fairs has been updated for 2015, 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.
2015 Book Fairs
Vilnius/Baltic Book Fair
No information currently available, so perhaps this will not be held this year.
Jerusalem International Book Fair
8 - 12 February. Has unique Editorial Fellowship Programme.
New Delhi World Book Fair
14 - 22 February http://www.newdelhiworldbookfair.gov.in/
Taipei International Book Exhibition
11 - 16 February The official website seems hard to find but this one gives some details:
Leipzig Book Fair
12 - 15 March
Leipzig Reads, part of the Book Fair, is Europe's biggest festival of literature and will have 2,400 events.
http://www.leipziger-buchmesse.com/
Salon du Livre, Paris
20-23 March. The 34th 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/
Alexandrina International Book Fair , Alexandria, Egypt
26 March to 7 April. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is organising its Tenth Alexandrina International Book Fair.
www.bibalex.org/bookfair/bookfair_en.aspx
Bologna Children's Book Fair
30 March - 2 April 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
13 - 16 April
No website apparently.
MIPTV
13 - 16 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
14 - 16 April
This will be back in Olympia this year, after a gap of several years, following 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 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 naturally out in force, but this fair now attracts visitors from all over the world. http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/
Budapest International Book Festival
23 - 26 April
With cultural events and conferences on issues affecting the book trade.
Thessaloniki International Book Fair
7 - 10 May.
http://www.thessalonikibookfair.com/2015/en/index.html
Tehran International Book Fair
6 - 16 May. Expected to attract 2,500 domestic and 1700 foreign publishers.
Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
7 - 13 May
Still working to make this fair the leading event for the Arab book world 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.
Nigerian International Book Fair
11 - 16 May New fair with ambitions to be the biggest in Africa, Informative website.
Bookworld Prague
14 - 17 May
http://www.svetknihy.cz/en/menu/
Warsaw International Book Fair
14 - 17 May France Guest of Honour http://www.targi-ksiazki.waw.pl/en/
BookExpo America
New York 27 - 29 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 over 750 authors, with 1500+ exhibitors, four Author Stages, a Digital Discovery Zone and China as Guest of Honour. There is a big programme for writers which is worth investigating and self-publishers are increasingly catered for, this year with uPublishU at BEABookExpo America, commonly referred to within the book publishing industry as BEA. The largest annual book trade fair in the United States. More information on BookExpo will be available closer to the time. www.bookexpoamerica.com
South African Book Fair
19 - 21 June This year in Johannesburg.
American Library Association Conference
25-30 June in San Francisco
Tokyo International Book Fair
1 - 4 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
15 - 21 July More than 560 exhibitors from 30 countries & regions, with more than 400 cultural events involving a million people this year. 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
26 - 30 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
2 - 6 September. Not many details available yet.
London Remainder and Promotional Book Fair
13 - 14 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
24 - 27 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. .www.bok-bibliotek.se
Frankfurt Book Fair
14 - 18 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. Indonesia will be Guest of Honour. http://www.frankfurt-book-fair.com
(See our Inside Publishing article on the Frankfurt Book Fair)
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. No dates yet.
http://www.torontoantiquarianbookfair.com
Sharjah International Book Fair
4 - 14 November 'For the love of the written word' is its motto. Over one million visitors last year.
http://www.sharjahbookfair.com/default.aspx
Salon du Livre, Montreal
18 - 20 November, with 120,00 visitors expected. No English version of website.
www.salondulivredemontreal.com
China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair
New children's book fair, for which this will be the fourth year, building on the enormous interest in children's publishing throughout the world, but especially in Asia. No dates yet. http://www.ccbookfair.com/en/
Feria International del Libro de Guadalajara
Mexico, no dates yet. 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
