Run largely by volunteers and sustained without direct state funding, the fair offers a model of civil-society publishing initiative. For professionals tracking new corridors in Arabic-language rights, distribution and print, Istanbul is now an essential date on the calendar.

The 11th International Istanbul Arabic Book Fair closed its doors on 23 August after nine days that demonstrated the city’s rising stature as a publishing crossroads.

General Coordinator Dr Muhammed Ağırakça reported visitor numbers of over 150,000, comfortably exceeding the 120,000 forecast and confirming the event as the largest Arabic book fair outside the Arab world.

A Landmark Edition

Held at the Yenikapı Eurasia Exhibition and Art Center under the theme “The Story Continues,” the fair hosted more than 300 publishing houses from over 30 countries. Accreditation by the Cairo-based Arab Publishers Union reinforced its institutional credibility, while the daily programme of panels, signings and rights meetings offered publishers a practical forum for deal-making.

Syria’s Emotional Return

This year’s guest of honour, Syria, carried particular resonance. It marked the country’s first appearance as an honoured nation since the revolution, and Ağırakça noted the deeply emotional response of Syrian visitors encountering their own national stand.

Deputy Culture Minister Saad Naasan led a delegation that included senior figures from Syria’s National Library and manuscript heritage sector.

A Growing Marketplace

Since its debut in 2016 with 170 publishers from 15 Arab countries plus Turkey, Iran and Italy, the fair has more than doubled in scale. Istanbul’s competitive printing costs and high production standards have increasingly drawn Arab publishers away from traditional centres such as Beirut, turning the city into a print hub for Arabic-language books bound for European markets.

Translation as Bridge

The TULIA project continued to drive Turkish–Arab literary exchange, with more than 2,000 Turkish works now available in Arabic translation. This year’s programme also introduced translator workshops – a first for the fair –

signalling a move toward more systematic, academically supported exchange. Turkish authors including Mustafa Armağan and Nevzat Tarhan met Arab readers at dedicated signing sessions, highlighting the fair’s role as a two-way cultural conduit.

The View From The Beach

Run largely by volunteers and sustained without direct state funding, the fair offers a model of civil-society publishing initiative. For professionals tracking new corridors in Arabic-language rights, distribution and print, Istanbul is now an essential date on the calendar.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.