Book fair writes new chapter on international dialogue

The 32nd Beijing International Book Fair, themed "Using Books as a Medium to Facilitate Communication and Dialogue, Leading to Cooperative Success for All Parties Involved", will be held from June 17 to 21 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, with the United Arab Emirates as the Country of Honor.

This year, the fair boasts an exhibition space spanning 60,000 square meters, attracting over 1,700 exhibitors from 82 countries and regions. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore 220,000 high-quality book titles from around the globe. The fair continues to grow, with 10 additional countries participating compared to last year, including Hungary, Moldova, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mauritius, Peru, Ecuador, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Twenty-seven joint exhibition booths representing various countries and regions will be set up, with debut appearances by institutions including the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Creative Content Agency, and the Moscow Creative Industries Agency.

The book fair will welcome 26 new international publishing organizations, including academic publishers such as Johns Hopkins University Press from the United States and Infoteka; children's book publishers, such as the Italian film and animation company Rainbow and Canada's Guava Press; and educational publishers like Creverse from South Korea and Lexima from the Netherlands.

The UAE, as the guest of honor, will present the "UAE House" under the theme "Society and People", featuring cultural and copyright booths spanning over 640 square meters. During the book fair, more than 20 events will be hosted, including the opening ceremony, China-Arab copyright meetings, book launches, writer salons, and reading promotions. Attendees can also experience cultural activities, including traditional music, dance performances, and Arabic coffee tastings.

A special 450-sq-m exhibition will showcase classic works from China's rich traditional culture, including The Book of Songs, The Book of Documents, Records of the Historian, The Book of Han, Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, and The Songs of Chu.

Key events during the book fair include the 19th Special Book Award of China, the 2026 Beijing International Publishing Forum, the STM APAC Conference, the 2026 PubTech Conference, the 4th International Conference on Publishing Education, the 2026 BIBF World Children's Book Forum, the 4th BIBF Art Book Fair, and the 2026 BIBF International Illustration Forum.

The fair will also feature a series of engaging events, such as the BIBF Ambassador Salon, Author Focus, the First Beijing International Literature Week, and the Second Symposium on China by World Writers, fostering dialogue among authors from various countries and regions.

Highlighting Chinese literary talent, writer Yu Hua will be featured at the Third Exhibition of Translated Works by Renowned Chinese Authors.