Major book fairs, country by country

Dates, venues and official ticket links — with a plain note on whether authors can realistically speak to anyone. 29 countries. Always confirm with the organiser before you book flights.

RegionCountry

33 fairs.

Argentina

Buenos Aires · Argentina

Buenos Aires International Book Fair

One of the largest book fairs in the Spanish-speaking world, held at La Rural.

Next dates TBCSmaller stands usually approachable

Predio Ferial La Rural

Australia

Sydney · Australia

Sydney Writers’ Festival

Oceania does not run a major international rights fair. Sydney’s festival is the closest large professional-and-public gathering in May.

3–9 May 2027Authors are not the intended visitor

Walsh Bay, Sydney

Austria

Vienna · Austria

Buch Wien

Vienna’s book fair — the Austrian counterpart to the German trade calendar.

25–29 Nov 2026Smaller stands usually approachable

Messe Wien

Belgium

Brussels · Belgium

Brussels Book Fair

A bilingual public fair that punches above its size for French- and Dutch-language publishing.

18–21 Mar 2027Smaller stands usually approachable

Tour & Taxis

Canada

Montreal · Canada

Salon du livre de Montréal

The main French-language book fair in North America.

25–29 Nov 2026Smaller stands usually approachable

Palais des congrès de Montréal

China

Beijing · China

Beijing International Book Fair

Asia’s principal international book fair, and the gateway to Chinese publishing.

16–20 Jun 2027Mostly by appointment

China National Convention Center

Colombia

Bogotá · Colombia

Bogotá International Book Fair

Colombia’s major book fair, and a key Andean gathering for Spanish-language publishing.

Next dates TBCSmaller stands usually approachable

Corferias

Czech Republic

Prague · Czech Republic

Book World Prague

The Czech Republic’s main international book fair, with a strong translation market.

Next dates TBCSmaller stands usually approachable

Výstaviště Praha

Egypt

Cairo · Egypt

Cairo International Book Fair

Africa’s largest book fair and one of the biggest anywhere by attendance. A readers’ event on a national-holiday scale.

21 Jan – 3 Feb 2027Authors are not the intended visitor

Egypt International Exhibition Center, New Cairo

Finland

Helsinki · Finland

Helsinki Book Fair

Finland’s main book event — a public fair with a professional undercurrent.

22–25 Oct 2026Smaller stands usually approachable

Messukeskus Helsinki

France

Paris · France

Festival du Livre de Paris

The French capital’s big public book festival, successor in spirit to the old Salon du Livre.

Next dates TBCAuthors are not the intended visitor

Grand Palais Éphémère / see official site for the current venue

Germany

Frankfurt am Main · Germany

Frankfurt Book Fair

The world’s largest trade fair for books, rights and publishing. The place to watch what the industry is actually buying.

13–17 Oct 2027Public days are the realistic window

Messe Frankfurt

Hong Kong

Hong Kong · Hong Kong

Hong Kong Book Fair

A major public book-buying event at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Next dates TBCAuthors are not the intended visitor

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Hungary

Budapest · Hungary

Budapest International Book Festival

Hungary’s international book festival — public-facing, with visiting foreign publishers.

Next dates TBCSmaller stands usually approachable

HUNGEXPO

India

New Delhi · India

New Delhi World Book Fair

Asia’s largest public book fair by footfall, organised by the National Book Trust.

16–24 Jan 2027Smaller stands usually approachable

Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

Italy

Bologna · Italy

Bologna Children’s Book Fair

The global marketplace for children’s and YA content, illustration and licensing.

5–8 Apr 2027Mostly by appointment

BolognaFiere

Turin · Italy

Turin International Book Fair

Italy’s largest public book fair, with a strong independent-press culture.

Next dates TBCSmaller stands usually approachable

Lingotto Fiere

Rome · Italy

Più libri più liberi

Italy’s fair of small and independent publishers. If you want to talk to a real editor, start here.

4–8 Dec 2026Smaller stands usually approachable

Rome — see organiser site

Kenya

Nairobi · Kenya

Nairobi International Book Fair

East Africa’s principal book fair, organised with the Kenya Publishers Association.

Next dates TBCSmaller stands usually approachable

Sarit Expo Centre

Mexico

Guadalajara · Mexico

Guadalajara International Book Fair

The most important exhibit of Spanish-language books in the world, and the hub for Latin American publishing.

28 Nov – 6 Dec 2026Public days are the realistic window

Expo Guadalajara

Poland

Warsaw · Poland

Warsaw International Book Fair

Poland’s principal international book fair — a growing translation market.

Next dates TBCSmaller stands usually approachable

Stadion Narodowy / PGE Narodowy

Serbia

Belgrade · Serbia

Belgrade International Book Fair

The leading book fair of the western Balkans, heavily attended by the public.

17–25 Oct 2026Smaller stands usually approachable

Belgrade Fair

South Africa

Cape Town · South Africa

Open Book Festival

South Africa’s leading literary festival. Excellent for writers; the wrong shape for a publisher walk-up.

Next dates TBCAuthors are not the intended visitor

Cape Town city venues — see openbookfestival.co.za

South Korea

Seoul · South Korea

Seoul International Book Fair

Korea’s international book fair — a market that has become a serious exporter of fiction, webtoons and children’s books.

Next dates TBCMostly by appointment

COEX

Spain

Madrid · Spain

LIBER International Book Fair

Spain’s professional export fair for books in Spanish, aimed at publishers and librarians.

Next dates TBCMostly by appointment

IFEMA Madrid

Madrid · Spain

Madrid Book Fair

A much-loved open-air booksellers’ fair in Retiro Park — wonderful to visit, the wrong tool for a cold submission.

Next dates TBCAuthors are not the intended visitor

Parque del Retiro

Sweden

Gothenburg · Sweden

Gothenburg Book Fair

The Nordic region’s major book event: a public festival wrapped around a professional fair.

Next dates TBCSmaller stands usually approachable

Svenska Mässan

Switzerland

Geneva · Switzerland

Geneva Book Fair

The principal French-speaking Swiss book fair, compact and professional enough to be useful.

24–28 Feb 2027Smaller stands usually approachable

Palexpo

Taiwan

Taipei · Taiwan

Taipei International Book Exhibition

Taiwan’s annual international book exhibition, typically in early February.

2–7 Feb 2027Smaller stands usually approachable

Taipei World Trade Center

United Arab Emirates

Sharjah · United Arab Emirates

Sharjah International Book Fair

The pre-eminent Arabic-language book fair, with a serious translation grant and a professional track.

4–14 Nov 2026Smaller stands usually approachable

Expo Centre Sharjah

Abu Dhabi · United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

A major Arabic and international cultural fair at ADNEC, with a growing professional programme.

Next dates TBCSmaller stands usually approachable

ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi

United Kingdom

London · United Kingdom

The London Book Fair

The English-language spring rights fair. Compact, intense, and not designed as an author pitching event.

16–18 Mar 2027Authors are not the intended visitor

ExCeL London

United States

Miami · United States

Miami Book Fair

The United States no longer has a Frankfurt-style national trade fair. Miami is among the largest public literary events that remain.

15–22 Nov 2026Authors are not the intended visitor

Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus