The name of the fair is a reference to the Contract Square, a square in the historic Podil neighborhood of Kyiv. The square got its name from the Contracts House, a trading center where the city’s contracts were signed. Historically, the Contract Square was the heart of the city’s trade and commerce, as well as the place where numerous fair were held. The Kyiv International Book Fair was named after it to emphasize the role of the event in the development of book trade in Ukraine.
The Book Contracts Fair was founded in 2010 by the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine. It is one of the country’s largest trade fairs for fiction and non-fiction books. Every year, the fair features more than 130 Ukrainian publishers, as well as participants from other countries such as Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, and more.
Exhibitors offer an impressive selection of books at prices lower than retail. They include fiction, children’s books, academic and scientific literature, reference and business books, historical fiction, periodicals, e-books, and more.
The program of the Kyiv International Book Fair features various events and activities for visitors of all ages and backgrounds, including book presentations, panels, book signings, seminars, open discussions, children’s workshops, and more. At the fair, book lovers have a chance to meet their favorite Ukrainian authors, illustrators, literary critics, as well as to discover new talent.
Every year, the Book Contracts Fair hosts a charity event titled Special Books for Special Children. Its purpose is to raise money for buying books for children with disabilities and orphans, including Braille books for the blind which are expensive and hard to find.
The Book Contracts Kyiv International Book Fair is a four-day event with free admission. It is the meeting place for publishers, booksellers, authors and book lovers from all over Ukraine.
