In a significant international development, China is set to participate in the International Kolkata Book Fair once again after a gap of 15 years. The neighbouring country last took part in the fair in 2011 and confirmed its return at the eleventh hour after accepting an invitation sent by the Guild of Publishers and Booksellers, the organiser of the event.
Confirming the development, Guild General Secretary Tridib Kumar Chatterjee said, “China is participating in the book fair again after 2011. They informed us at the last moment that they will be coming to the book fair this year.”
Equally notable is the participation of Ukraine, which will be attending the International Kolkata Book Fair for the first time. The presence of the war-affected nation is being seen as one of the most significant aspects of this year’s fair, with organisers expecting the Ukrainian pavilion to offer insights into the country’s current situation and the perspectives of its people through literature and publications.
In all, representatives from 21 countries will take part in the 2026 edition of the International Kolkata Book Fair.
The 49th edition of the fair will begin on Thursday, January 22. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the event at 4 PM at the Central Park grounds in Salt Lake. Argentina has been chosen as the focal theme country this year. Eminent Argentinian writer Gustavo Cansobre and Argentina’s Ambassador to India, Mariano Causino, will be present at the inaugural ceremony.
Last year, the book fair recorded a footfall of around 27 lakh visitors, and organisers are optimistic of surpassing that figure this year. Improved metro connectivity to Central Park is expected to boost attendance further, with special metro ticket counters set up between gates one and two inside the fair premises.
As in previous years, several special days will be observed during the fair. ‘Chirotarun Dibas’ (Ever-Youthful Day) will be celebrated on January 30, when poet Mridul Dasgupta, publisher Rajendra Kumar Mehra and reader Nirmal Bhattacharya will be felicitated. On the opening day, writer Swapnamoy Chakraborty will receive the Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature, which carries a cash prize of ₹2 lakh.
The fair will also host the Kolkata Literature Festival, with multiple discussion sessions scheduled for January 24 and 25, adding further intellectual depth to one of the country’s largest literary gatherings.
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