The 32nd Beijing International Book Fair closed after five days of rights trading, high‑level forums, and cultural showcases.

This year’s edition welcomed exhibitors from 82 countries and regions, with 10 nations including Hungary, Moldova and South Africa participating for the first time.

Across the halls, more than 1,700 exhibitors presented a diverse publishing landscape. They showcased 220,000 Chinese and international titles and hosted over 1,000 cultural exchange events. Nearly 300,000 visits reaffirmed the fair’s role as Asia’s premier publishing and cultural exchange platform.

By the close of the fair, a total of 2,835 copyright trade agreements were concluded. Social sciences, children’s books, and science and technology titles ranked among the top three categories in copyright trade volume.

Major Deals & Copyright Highlights

• Phoenix Publishing’s Yilin Press signed a deal with Springer Nature to publish the English edition of Civilisation of Šumeru, by Peking University’s Gong Yushu. The global English release is scheduled for 2027.
• Full Quantum Effects in Condensed Matter Physics by Prof. Wang En’ge, published by Cambridge University Press, launched at the Science Press booth.
• Zhejiang Education Publishing Group signed with UAE’s Ramsa Publishing to bring the Artificial Intelligence textbook into Dubai Chinese School.
• Heilongjiang Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House partnered with OverDrive to distribute original Chinese children’s e‑books and audiobooks globally.
• East China Normal University Press and Cengage Group launched a strategic partnership to expand global reach of the ECNU Review of Education.

Sean Xie, Director of the BIBF Organising Office, said:

“Through events such as the Beijing International Publishing Forum, the PubTech Conference, the STM Asia-Pacific Conference and the Digital Publishing Pavilion, BIBF 2026 highlights how publishing is evolving beyond its traditional role as a copyright trading platform. Today, it is part of a more connected global content ecosystem shaped by artificial intelligence, intellectual property and international collaboration.”

Liu Zhenyun, author and BIBF Reading Promotion Ambassador, said at the Beijing International Publishing Forum:

“The future of reading lies in exchange and unceasing innovation. Only by breaking with repetition and pursuing continuous creativity can reading truly touch people’s hearts.”

Country of Honour: UAE

The United Arab Emirates Country of Honour programme brought together 30 cultural and academic institutions and hosted over 20 events including sessions about China‑UAE cultural relations, children’s literature and travel writing.

Visiting industry leaders also praised BIBF’s efficiency and diversity.

William Achauer, Director at Springer Nature, said: “BIBF is our most important Asian rights‑licensing platform of the year — bar none. The dedicated science and business matchmaking sessions made negotiations far more efficient than the Asian sections of Frankfurt or London.”

Michael Cornhill, Head of Cengage Group Asia, said: “BIBF is one of the world’s largest book fairs, offering a vital opportunity to connect publishing and education peers and gain industry insights.”

Sarah Sagripanti, Vice President Publishing at Rainbow S.p.a, said: “BIBF is unlike any other book fair I’ve attended. In Beijing, everything feels fresh — and there is an enormous pool of local Chinese publishers and overseas resources.”

Innovation Takes Centre Stage: AI, Digital Publishing, and IP Licensing

BIBF 2026 sharpened its focus on the publishing industry’s digital transformation. A new Digital Publishing Joint Pavilion, IP Licensing Zone, and BIBF ComicHub were launched for the first time. Tencent, NetEase Games, Douyin Group, 37 Interactive Entertainment and Yuewen Group headlined the digital content area. Yuewen now supports 530,000 international original writers and hosts over 820,000 original works, with 38 titles inducted into the British Library.

The BIBF ComicHub gathered 29 global animation and comics publishers, while the IP Licensing Zone presented over 120 domestic and international IPs.

Forums Map the Future: Reading, AI, and Global Dialogue

The PubTech Conference and STM Asia‑Pacific Conference jointly focused on the future of academic publishing, addressing three key themes: AI‑enabled research workflows, the transition toward open access, and research integrity governance.

At the BIBF World Children’s Book Forum, Ian Denison, former UNESCO Director of Publishing, urged the industry to ask “what role should AI play?” rather than “can AI create children’s literature.” Cai Gao, the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration winner, emphasised that “human emotion and thought remain the most reliable compass.”

The fair’s dedicated children’s attractions drew large crowds: the BIBF Picture Book Pavilion attracted over 40,000 visitors, while the “Harry Potter” pop‑up store welcomed more than 25,000 visitors.

Author Focus: Writers at the Heart of Global Exchange

BIBF’s ongoing “Author Focus” programme featured Yu Hua, displaying over 250 translated editions of his works across more than 50 languages. Liu Zhenyun, serving as BIBF Reading Promotion Ambassador, led multiple sessions on international publishing, literary translation, and cross‑disciplinary dialogue.

Save the Date

The 33rd Beijing International Book Fair will be held on 16th-20th June, 2027. Updates here.