India is the most exciting publishing prospect on the planet right now.

The National Book Trust, India has opened online registration for the 54th New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), scheduled for 16–24 January 2027 at Halls 2–6 of Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Publishers wishing to secure space must complete registration by 31 March 2026, with payment due between 1–31 August 2026.

2026 And All That

The announcement follows the highly successful 2026 edition, which concluded in January with an estimated footfall exceeding two million visitors – a 20 per cent increase on the previous year.

The surge in attendance was attributed to the fair’s first-ever free entry policy, which organisers have now confirmed will continue for 2027.

The 2026 fair hosted over 1,000 publishers from more than 35 countries and featured 600 curated events with over 1,000 speakers.

The National Book Trust reported a 30 per cent rise in its own book sales compared to the previous edition, whilst publishers across categories noted improved audience reach and stronger buying intent amongst visitors.

Qatar participated as Guest of Honour and Spain as Focus Country, with the International Events Corner facilitating cultural exchange alongside commercial activity.

Next

For the 2027 edition, the National Book Trust is again positioning NDWBF as a significant business-to-business platform. The CEOSpeak International Publishing Conference and the New Delhi Rights Table will run concurrently, offering dedicated space for rights exchange and co-publication negotiations.

The latter will take place on 18-19 January 2027, providing matchmaking sessions for translation and other rights deals across English, Hindi and Indian regional languages.

Stall rentals remain subsidised for Indian language publishers, with bare space (3m × 3m) available from ₹55,460 and standard stalls from ₹56,640.

English language publishers face higher tariffs, with standard 3m × 3m stalls priced at ₹86,140. Allotment will proceed via computerised draw of lots following payment confirmation.

The View From The Beach

With India’s publishing market valued at approximately $9.3 billion and the country ranking as the world’s third-largest publishing nation, NDWBF continues to serve as a critical gateway for international publishers seeking access to the subcontinent’s multilingual readership.

New Delhi and the Chennai International Book Fair are essential places to be for anyone interested in the South Asia book markets in general and India in particular.

India is the most exciting publishing prospect on the planet right now.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.