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Top international book fairs of 2013

2013's major international book fairs will see publishers orienting themselves to a world of readers that use print as well as digital, and one in which Chinese, Indian and South American markets are of growing importance.

New Delhi World Book Fair
February 4 - 10
Pragati Maidan Exhibition Grounds, New Delhi, India

Formerly held every two years, the New Delhi World Book Fair marks its annualization in 2013, this year adopting "indigenous voices" as its theme, placing prominence upon folk and tribal literature, and welcoming France as guest of honor. In 2012, 1,300 Indian exhibitors and 30 foreign exhibitors were represented at the event.
http://www.newdelhiworldbookfair.gov.in


Salon du Livre

March 22-25
Porte de Versailles, Paris, France

The Paris Book Fair boasted 1,200 exhibitors with 40 countries represented at its 2012 edition, having refocused on a shortened exhibition period and now working to accommodate small and first-time exhibitors alongside established players. Guests of honor for 2013 are to be Romania and Barcelona.
http://www.salondulivreparis.com


London Book Fair
April 15-17
Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, UK

The London Book Fair is the leading spring book event in Europe, with the Frankfurt Fair dominating the second half of the year. While the event spotlights the UK publishing industry -- the second-largest in the world for English-language books -- it also attracts up to 25,000 visitors from 130 countries around the world. Turkey will be the Market Focus at the 2013 fair.
http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk


Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
April 24-29
National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, a leading book fair for the Middle Eastern market organized in part by the Frankfurt Book Fair, boasts half a million titles on dislay and hosts the International Prize for Arabic Fiction and Sheikh Zayed Book Awards. The 2013 focus will be on digital publishing, apps, and technology.
http://www.adbookfair.com


BookExpo America
May 30 - June 1
Javitz Convention Center, New York, NY

BookExpo America is the premier book fair in North America and the largest English-language book fair in the world. More than 2,000 exhibitors and 500 authors attended the 2012 event, as well as an estimated 30,000 visitors. Live streaming of select events will return for 2013. The fair began in 1902 with Mark Twain as the featured author; the 2012 program featured Stephen Colbert, Barbara Kingsolver, Zadie Smith, Michael Chabon and Lee Child.
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com


Tokyo International Book Fair
July 4-7
Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan

TIBF is the leading book event focusing on the colossal Japanese publishing industry, which is estimated to be the second largest woldwide. Focuses include general fiction, business titles, and manga, as well as Japan's growing e-book market. In 2012, e-books and e-readers became a focus, and the fair welcomed 66,115 visitors from 42 countries.
http://www.bookfair.jp


Hong Kong Book Fair
July 17-23
HK Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, China

Asia's biggest book fair in terms of visitor numbers, the Hong Kong Book Fair is a cultural phenomenom, attracting huge numbers of visitors with its author autographs, book bargains, and cultural events. The 2012 fair attracted 900,000 visitors despite disruption caused by a typhoon warning; 2013's major exhibit categories include e-books, e-readers and e-learning, as well as children's and teens' books, religious books and stationery alongside the usual fare.
http://www.hkbookfair.com


Beijing International Book Fair
August 28 - September 1
New China International Exhibition Center, Beijing, China

The BIBF presents itself as the largest publishing industry event for the Asian market, and one which continues to grow in importance as publishers set their sights on the huge Chinese market with its demand for translated and English-language titles. Over 200,000 industry members and visitors attend the event, which is historically open to the public on the fourth day. The 2013 edition will be the BIBF's second year in a new convention center, so organizers are predicting an even smoother event.
http://www.bibf.net


Frankfurt Book Fair
October 9-13
Messegelände, Frankfurt, Germany

The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's biggest gathering of publishers and authors. The 2012 fair hosted over 7,300 exhibitors from around 100 countries, attracting 281,753 visitors. Celebrities from the fields of books, video gaming, TV and film are frequently in attendance. Spotlights in 2013 will fall upon children's books, book rights, gastronomy, travel, specialist information, and the Frankfurt Sparks digital initiative platform. Brazil will be guest of honor.
http://www.buchmesse.de


Guadalajara International Book Fair
TBA
Exhibition Center, Guadalajara, Mexico

The "FIL" (Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara), usually held in November, is the principal event for Spanish-language publishing worldwide, attracting 660,000 visitors in 2011 and nearly 2,000 publishing houses from 43 countries in the Spanish-speaking world and beyond. Israel is guest of honor in 2013.
http://www.fil.com.mx