The international focus programme facilitates bilateral cooperation, offering foreign publishers direct access to Slovenian houses and their catalogues.

The 41st Slovenian Book Fair opened this week, running from 24 to 30 November at Ljubljana’s Cankarjev dom Culture and Congress Centre.

As Slovenia’s premier literary event, it attracts approximately 100 publishing houses and offers significant opportunities for international industry professionals seeking access to this dynamic Central European market.

Fair Overview

Organised annually since 1993 by the Chamber of Publishing and Bookselling, the fair has become a cornerstone of Slovenia’s literary calendar.

The 2025 edition features its traditional programme of school presentations, exhibitions, debates, and children’s events, alongside the prestigious Best First Book Award, Best Book Design Award, and Schwentner Award for outstanding publishing achievements. The accompanying Publishing Academy hosts discussions on pressing sector issues, providing valuable insights into regional challenges and opportunities.

International Focus

This year’s partner country is Bulgaria, with authors Dimitar Dinev and Vesela Lyakhova prominently featured at the LUD Literatura stand.

The international focus programme facilitates bilateral cooperation, offering foreign publishers direct access to Slovenian houses and their catalogues. Recent editions have successfully connected Slovenian publishers with German, Austrian, Swiss, Hungarian, Italian, and French markets.

Professional Opportunities

For publishing professionals, the fair represents a concentrated opportunity for rights trading, translator networking, and market intelligence gathering. The Slovenian Book Agency supports internationalisation efforts, building on the momentum from Slovenia’s 2023 Frankfurt Book Fair Guest of Honour status.

Publishers can connect with key Slovenian houses including Mladinska knjiga, Beletrina, and Goga, many actively seeking translation partners and co-publishing agreements.

Market Context

Slovenia boasts the world’s second-highest number of books published per capita, reflecting a robust literary culture despite its population of just 2.1 million. The industry has embraced digital transformation while maintaining strong public library networks, creating a stable foundation for rights sales and translation projects.

With increased audiobook production and growing international rights activity, the 2025 fair offers timely access to a high-performing small-language market.

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