The Leipzig Book Fair is focusing on common ground and cohesion with its program this year. The fair's motto "Where stories connect us" sends the message that readers are part of a community, said Director Astrid Böhmisch. "We were and are a huge community event."
Around 2,000 events are on the program at the fair and the accompanying "Leipzig liest" festival from 19 to 22 March. These include numerous readings, as well as discussion panels and award ceremonies. In terms of exhibitor numbers, the trade fair is slightly "above the previous year", when 2,040 exhibitors were in Leipzig. This is a great vote of confidence from the industry, said Böhmisch.
18 hours of non-stop novel reading
The range of authors expected at the fair is broad. They range from feminism icon Alice Schwarzer to social media star Daniela Katzenberger. Among many others, Sebastian Fitzek, Robert Menasse, Lukas Rietzschel, Sophie Passmann, musician and author Judith Holofernes, Bernhard Schlink, Marc-Uwe Kling and Lutz van der Horst are also expected to attend.
New is an 18-hour reading marathon: authors, politicians and citizens will read the 627-page novel "Unterleuten" by Juli Zeh non-stop. The author herself will also be there - and Book Fair Director Böhmisch will also take on a reading stage.
No guest country, but the Danube in focus
Unlike in previous years, there is no guest country at the Leipzig Book Fair this time. Instead, the Danube region has been selected as the so-called focus theme. Under the motto "Under power and between worlds", 24 book presentations, talks and panel discussions are planned.
The Danube is the European river par excellence, says the curator of the program, Stephan Ozsvath. The current tension between European values and the Russian sphere of influence lies in this area. It is extremely demanding in literary terms.
Director Böhmisch said that the Leipzig Book Fair will have a guest country from time to time in the future, but also a focus topic from time to time,
Audiobook sector growing
There is a lot of movement in the audiobook market - and this will also be reflected at the book fair. There will be more exhibitors in Leipzig and they will occupy a larger area than last year. The Swedish audio streaming service BookBeat will be represented at the Leipzig Book Fair for the first time. On the Saturday of the fair, it will be presenting awards to the most popular audiobooks in various genres.
Streaming and downloads have helped audiobooks to become increasingly popular in recent years. According to the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, sales increased by 49.6 percent between 2019 and 2024. Very few audiobooks (7.4 percent of sales) are still purchased physically as CDs - the majority are streamed and downloaded.
Numerous new-adult authors expected
The book fair will also be devoting a lot of space to popular young-adult and new-adult titles. Numerous prominent female representatives from this sector are expected in Leipzig - including "Bridgerton" author Julia Quinn, Ayla Dade, known for the Winterdreams series, and book toker Josi Wismar.
The fair has spread the stands of interest to the target group over several halls. The signing sessions in particular have always been densely packed in previous years.
Fair wants to offer special stages for debuts
The Leipzig Book Fair also wants to put young literary talent in the front row this year, said Director Böhmisch. To this end, the "Best First Books" format introduced last year will be continued. Debut authors will also be given more space at other events.
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