The Palestinian pavilion, empty of books and centred on the word “Genocide,” drew attention as a stark political statement referencing the Gaza conflict since 2023. Such gestures remind industry observers that book fairs in the region remain sites of both commerce and commentary.
The 27th Baghdad International Book Fair, which opened on 2 September and runs until 12 September, offers publishing professionals a revealing snapshot of a resilient Arab reading market and regional cultural diplomacy.
Scale and Participation
More than 600 local, Arab and international publishing houses from roughly 20–28 countries are taking part across hundreds of stands at the Baghdad International Fair grounds in Mansour.
Sources including Shafaq News, Qatar News Agency and Tehran Times confirm broad representation from Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, Turkey, European houses and others. The event was inaugurated by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who described Baghdad as a continuing “beacon of culture.” First launched in 1979, the fair has become one of the region’s longest-running book gatherings.
Market Signals for Publishers
Iraqi readers and students showed strong early attendance. Media director Noor al-Karam noted that the turnout demonstrates Iraq’s high ranking for interest in reading and learning.
Lebanese publisher Arab Book House reported solid first-day sales and observed that Iraqi audiences actively seek titles across genres – valuable intelligence for rights managers and export teams assessing Arabic-language demand.
Islamic publishers such as Dar al-Rasoul al-Akram brought around 1,500 titles on history, hadith and interpretation, reflecting sustained specialist interest.
Cultural Diplomacy and Guest of Honour
Oman is Guest of Honour. Adviser Sami al-Adli highlighted shared scholarly heritage, notably the Omani scholar al-Farahidi, who developed Arabic prosody in Basra. Oman’s presence aims to deepen intellectual ties with a city long associated with literature and learning.
Parallel programmes – panel discussions, literary evenings and the “I Read” initiative – create networking opportunities for rights deals and co-editions.
Notable Interventions
The Palestinian pavilion, empty of books and centred on the word “Genocide,” drew attention as a stark political statement referencing the Gaza conflict since 2023. Such gestures remind industry observers that book fairs in the region remain sites of both commerce and commentary.
The View From The Beach
For publishing professionals, the fair signals growing international participation year on year and a public still closely attached to print, although of course the limited number of titles available in any digital formats is a big factor there.
Regardless, the Baghdad fair remains a practical venue for testing Arabic-market appetite, forging regional partnerships and observing how cultural events navigate political currents while sustaining commercial activity.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
