For professionals seeking to diversify Middle East portfolios, this event offers first-mover advantages in an underserved yet culturally significant market.
Baghdad is hosting the 6th Iraq International Book Fair 3 through 13 December 2025 at the Baghdad International Fair grounds.
Organised by the Al Mada Foundation for Media, Culture, and Arts, the fair has emerged as a crucial platform for Iraq’s publishing sector recovery.
Market Significance for Industry Professionals
For publishing professionals, this fair represents more than a cultural event – it is a strategic entry point to Iraq’s post-conflict book market. Following the disruption of 2003 onwards, Baghdad’s publishing infrastructure has been gradually rebuilding, with the Al Mada Foundation (established by the Al Mada newspaper group) playing a central role in revitalising literary networks.
The fair now stands alongside Cairo, Beirut, and Sharjah as a key regional destination, offering direct access to Iraqi readers, distributors, and educational institutions.
The Iraq book market, valued conservatively at £12 million annually, shows strong demand for educational titles, Arabic literature, and translated works.
Programme Highlights and Opportunities
The ten-day programme includes book signings, literary evenings, panel discussions on digital publishing transition, practical workshops on distribution challenges, and youth engagement initiatives. Publishers should note the fair functions as both a trade and public event, providing dual opportunities for rights negotiations and direct sales.
With security stabilised in central Baghdad, international participation has risen steadily since the fair’s 2019 relaunch. The 2025 edition aims to double foreign publisher attendance, focusing on rights trading and co-publishing agreements.
For professionals seeking to diversify Middle East portfolios, this event offers first-mover advantages in an underserved yet culturally significant market.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
