If India isn’t on your global publishing radar for 2026, then you are not taking the international book markets seriously.

Running 22 January–3 February at Boimela Prangan, Salt Lake City, the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair expects at least 2.7 million visitors across its thirteen-day run, and perhaps to exceed publishers’ sales last year which reached ₹23 crore ($2.8 million).

While marketed as the world’s most-attended book fair, industry figures indicate Cairo and Madrid draw larger footfall, but Kolkata remains India’s largest literary gathering and ranks among the world’s most significant trade events.

Argentina Takes Centre Stage

Argentina assumes focal theme status for the first time, capitalising on existing cultural capital beyond football. The programme celebrates literary figures – Borges, Cortázar, Victoria Ocampo – who have shaped Kolkata’s intellectual discourse. Ambassador Mariano Agustin Caucino will inaugurate the fair on 22 January, with ‘Argentina Day’ marked on 25 January.

Publisher Participation

Major trade houses maintain dedicated pavilions: Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Bloomsbury, Pan Macmillan, Oxford University Press, Pearson, and Indian powerhouses Rupa, Orient Black Swan, and Om Books International.

International presence includes the UK, Germany, France, Russia, Spain, and Latin American nations (Peru, Costa Rica), alongside direct participation from Indian states: Delhi, Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and others.

Cultural Commemorations

The fair coincides with three birth centenaries: Bengali cinema icon Uttam Kumar receives a curated exhibition (‘History of Bengal Cinema and Mahanayak’); author-activist Mahasweta Debi is honoured through a named auditorium; and musicians Dr Bhupen Hazarika and Salil Chowdhury are celebrated with interactive sessions.

Kolkata Literature Festival

The 12th Kolkata Literature Festival runs 24–25 January within the fairground, featuring international authors, industry panels, and evening performances. The event remains fully digitised, offering global access to programming.

Accessibility and Reach

‘Senior Citizens’ Day’ on 29 January extends community engagement, while digital integration connects remote audiences to the fair’s catalogue and events.

The View From The Beach

Expect more details about the Kolkata event as we start the new year.

India is wall-to-wall book fairs all year around, but as we head into the peak season there’s nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

If India isn’t on your global publishing radar for 2026, then you are not taking the international book markets seriously.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsletter.