Thessaloniki is set to transform into an international cultural hub during the 22nd Thessaloniki International Book Fair, bringing together writers and literary figures from across the world for a four-day event from 7 to 10 May 2026.
According to organisers, the fair makes the city a "meeting point" for Greek and international authors, playwrights, illustrators, translators and screenwriters, fostering "a fascinating dialogue of cultures" centred on freedom of expression, mutual respect and pluralism. The programme highlights the event's outward-looking character, with a strong presence of writers from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and beyond.
Among the international participants is Australian author Dominic Amerena, presenting his award-winning debut novel, alongside Cuban poet Víctor Rodríguez Núñez, whose work is being translated into Greek for the first time. The fair also features Icelandic poet Haukur Ingvarsson and Basque poet Tere Irastortza Garmendia, who will contribute to discussions on Nordic and Spanish-language poetry, while Palestinian poet Najwan Darwish will present a bilingual edition of his work.
The global scope extends further through the participation of writers such as Iranian-Swedish author Athena Farrokhzad, Georgian poet Dato Magradze, and Albanian writer Virgjil Muçi. Turkish poets Adnan Özer and Cenk Gündoğdu will take part in a discussion on poetry in times of war, reflecting the fair's engagement with contemporary international issues.
Academic voices also feature prominently, including Tudor Dinu from the University of Bucharest and Miha Kovač from the University of Ljubljana, who will present work on reading culture in the digital age. American anthropologist Robert Hayden will discuss the post-Yugoslav Balkans, while Italian crime writer Sandrone Dazieri and German-speaking authors such as Carsten Henn and Leif Randt bring perspectives from popular European literature.
The programme is enriched through collaborations with cultural institutions and embassies, including the Goethe-Institut, the French Institute, and the Polish Embassy, which support the participation of authors such as Kaouther Adimi and Urszula Honek, the latter shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2024.
A dedicated children's and youth programme reinforces the event's international dimension, with authors from Sweden, Slovenia, Spain and Austria leading multilingual workshops and discussions on themes ranging from environmental awareness to storytelling and literacy.
Organised by the Hellenic Foundation for Books and Culture in cooperation with HELEXPO, publishers and local authorities, the fair is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and forms part of international networks of book fairs.
Read the full programme and more information here.
