The Frankfurt Book Fair attracted 115,000 professional visitors

In 2024 the Frankfurt Book Fair, the largest book fair in Western Europe, welcomed 230,000 visitors including 115,000 industry professionals from various countries, according to the fair’s official website.

The book fair featured 4,300 exhibitors and hosted over 3,300 events.

The 76th Frankfurt Book Fair confirmed the trend of steady growth in the publishing industry. The fair attracted 115,000 professional visitors from 153 countries and 115,000 private visitors. In 2023, there were 105,000 professional visitors from 130 countries and 110,000 private visitors.

There were more than 4,300 exhibitors in the Book Fair pavilions. The Literary Agents and Scouts Centre (LitAg), booked long before the fair began, and the Publishers Rights Centre (PRC) reported unprecedented occupancy, with a total number of 593 tables. These centers, specializing in international rights trade, hosted professionals from 355 agencies and publishing houses, as well as 38,000 visitors. Over 7,500 media representatives covered more than 3,300 events held during the fair.

“Internationality is the business card that is creating the relevance we see in the growing number of participants in all sectors. The 76th Frankfurt Book Fair has become a platform for making important rights agreements for our exhibitors and visitors. Collaboration and cooperation are also becoming key factors. The publishing industry is expanding its connections with representatives of the creative industries, and this process is mutual. Our work in the area of cross-genre adaptations is gaining importance, which has long been evidenced by the film industry’s interest in the Frankfurt Book Fair, and now this is also extending to the gaming industry,” commented director of the Frankfurt Book Fair Jürgen Boos.

Karine Schmidt-Friederichs, Chair of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, emphasized the importance of engaging young audiences and noted their eagerness to read, a good sign for the future of the book industry: “The publishing sector can be proud of five successful days. The Frankfurt Book Fair has again proven to be the main platform for sharing experiences, networking, and managing business. At the same time, it was a festival of ideas, discussions, and new perspectives on crucial issues. Anyone who previously couldn’t imagine how passionate young people are about reading felt it firsthand at the fair: seeing thousands of book lovers celebrating their favorite books and authors only strengthens the desire to read and believe in the future of books.”

The program “Frankfurt Calling” became an important part of the fair. During more than 80 lectures, readings, discussions, and performances at the Frankfurt Pavilion and other venues, the audience had the opportunity to meet prominent figures such as Italian journalist Roberto Saviano, Pulitzer prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum, author and historian Yuval Noah Harari, German presenter and journalist Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim, and Japanese philosopher Kohei Saito. The discussion topics covered extremely relevant issues, including the global trend towards autocracy, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, Black feminism, and freedom of expression.

Italy was the guest of honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair. It showcased over 90 authors and introduced visitors to the country’s contemporary literary portfolio.

The new Centre of Words in Hall 4.1 served as a central platform for discussions on modern literature and translation. Approximately 80 authors, translators, and speakers, including Roberto Saviano, German Minister of Culture Claudia Roth, and Büchner Prize laureate Oswald Egger, participated in more than 30 events held on the spacious stage of the center and in its networking area. The Centre of Words became the central meeting point for literature and translation with its own stage and networking area.

“The Centre of Words managed to create a space for literature and translation, providing both with the visibility they need,” noted executive director of the German Literature Fund Lars Birken-Bertsch. He was one of those who helped shape the center’s program.

The Literary Agents and Scouts Centre and the Publishers Rights Centre, which occupied the entire floor of Pavilion Six, became a key meeting place for the international community in the field of rights and licensing. Here, professionals from various agencies and publishing houses met with business partners from around the world.

In the new Pavilion Stage 4.0, events for academic and educational publishers took place. The Education Forum in Hall 3.1 addressed important topics in contemporary education in Germany, including artificial intelligence and the digital transformation of educational institutions.

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Main image: Anett Weirauch

Copy editing: Lea Ann Douglas