Baku offers a compact, state-backed gateway to the South Caucasus and Turkic-language markets.

The 12th Baku International Book Fair, organised by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture, runs from 21 to 27 October at the Baku Expo Center. Its motto – “Life is bigger than a screen: one child, one book, one real world” – signals a deliberate pivot towards young readers at a moment when attention economics threatens print culture across the region.

Numbers Worth Noting

According to the fair’s official figures, 59 foreign organisations and 148 local publishing and printing companies will exhibit, with 32 countries represented and ten participating for the first time – among them the United States, Germany, India, Canada and Saudi Arabia. International bodies including ICESCO, TURKSOY and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation will also take part.

From Modest Beginnings

The first Baku International Book Fair opened at the Museum Center on 10–12 September 2015, likewise under the Culture Ministry’s aegis – a notably modest launch that has since scaled considerably. By 2019, the sixth edition attracted 81 local and 40 foreign publishing houses, and the same year Azerbaijan made its debut at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair as part of a project recognising the country’s book industry internationally.

The 2025 edition adopted a forward-looking “Techno-Human” theme, while the 2026 fair – held under the “Azerbaijan Culture – 2040” Concept – is dedicated to children, with the ministry prioritising children’s, academic and popular-science titles in its purchasing plans.

Programme Highlights

Beyond the trade floor, the programme spans master classes, inclusive book presentations, conferences, reading sessions and musical events, alongside dedicated platforms for industry networking. Honorary guests include People’s Poet Sabir Rustamkhanli and People’s Writer Chingiz Abdullayev, with writers and scholars from Türkiye, the US, Norway, England, Poland and Saudi Arabia also appearing.

The View From The Beach

Baku offers a compact, state-backed gateway to the South Caucasus and Turkic-language markets. The emphasis on child-focused content, transparent public procurement of publications and library reform suggests a rights-buying and institutional-sales opportunity that extends well beyond the fair’s five days – one that rewards publishers prepared to engage with a region intent on putting books back at the centre of cultural policy.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.