The Leipzig Book Fair is one of the oldest events of its kind in the world. It dates back to the 17th century. During the Enlightenment, it even surpassed the Frankfurt Book Fair in size, largely due to the efforts of local book publishers such as Philipp Erasmus Reich. It remained Germany’s leading book fair until the 1940s when the Frankfurt Book Fair regained its preeminent position. However, the Leipzig Book Fair still is one of the most important meeting places for book lovers, authors and publishers from all over Germany and abroad.
The Leipzig Book Fair is primarily aimed at the general public, although it hosts industry events too. One of its main goals is to facilitate the relationship between authors and readers. The fair has several exhibition areas including Fiction, Non-Fiction, Education, Children’s and Teenagers’ Books, Music, Travel, Religion, Newspapers & Magazines, Audio Books, International Area, Offers for Authors, and more.
Several important German book prizes are awarded at the Leipzig Book Fair. They include the Leipzig Book Fair Prize and the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding. The Leipzig Book Fair Prize is the second most important literary award in Germany after the German Book Prize presented at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Besides, the nominations for the German Youth Literature Prize (Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis) are announced at the Leipzig Book Fair.
Along with the exhibition and award ceremonies, the program of the fair includes meetings with authors, book signings, industry events (conferences, presentations, seminars and workshops), readings, family events and activities, etc. The Leipzig Book Fair offers an exciting opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of literature and discover new publications, authors, publishing companies and programs.
The fair also hosts a parallel event, the Manga-Comic-Con. It is a fan convention designed for comic book, manga, cosplay, gaming and Japanese culture lovers. The program of the Manga-Comic-Con includes an exhibitor area, meetings and signings with German and international artists, workshops and presentations, anime and film screenings, cosplay competitions, a Japanese tea garden, and more.
