The 54th National Book Fair and 24th Bangkok International Book Fair will convene at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre from 26 March through 6 April 2026.

Organised by the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT), this eleven-day event stands as one of South East Asia’s largest book trade gatherings.

Scale and Commercial Impact

The 2025 edition drew 1.3 million visitors across 1,166 booths from 358 exhibitors, generating approximately USD 12 million in sales value.

The fair occupies 22,750 square metres across four exhibition halls, with organisers expanding floor space annually to accommodate growing demand. The demographic skews notably young – 69% of attendees fall within the 12–35 age bracket – with comics and manga commanding 40% of total sales.

Rights Trading Infrastructure

The concurrent Bangkok Rights Fair (27–28 March 2026) has rapidly established itself as the region’s primary B2B rights trading platform since its 2024 launch.

The 2025 edition hosted 135 companies from 14 countries, facilitating over 200 business matchmaking sessions. PUBAT offers fellowship programmes covering table fees, accommodation, and airfare reimbursement for qualifying international publishers and agents.

2026 Programming Highlights

Under the theme “Read The Legend,” this year’s edition adopts a vibrant City Pop aesthetic featuring mascot character Khun Thong.

The exhibition divides into seven dedicated zones: fiction and literature, comics and teen books, children’s and educational titles, international publications, rare and antique volumes, general interest, and non-book merchandise including board games.

The View From The Beach

Translated works dominate Thailand’s book market, with local publishers actively acquiring foreign rights across genres including psychology, romance, horror, and children’s literature.

The fair serves as the primary gateway for international publishers seeking entry into Southeast Asia’s dynamic market, whilst offering Thai publishers global visibility for original content.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.