New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 Opens With Free Entry, Global Literary Showcase

The much-awaited nine-day celebration of books and ideas, the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026, was inaugurated on Saturday by Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, marking the beginning of a global literary confluence that brings together cultures, knowledge systems, and creative voices from around the world.

Scheduled to run until January 18, the 53rd edition of the fair marks a historic milestone with free entry for all visitors—a significant move aimed at widening public access and nurturing a deeper reading culture across the country at a time when concerns over excessive internet use and digital addiction are growing.

Addressing the gathering, Pradhan quoted the Bhagavad Gita, emphasizing that nothing in this world is purer than knowledge. “Books carry forward the tradition of knowledge, connect generations, preserve civilisational memory and guide society. The New Delhi World Book Fair is India’s largest public celebration of reading and has, over 53 years, emerged as one of the most trusted platforms in global publishing. Today, India stands as the world’s third-largest publishing hub, reflecting our linguistic diversity, global relevance and the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.

Referring to Confucius, the Minister underlined the importance of studying the past to understand the future, while also highlighting the significance of museums and cultural preservation, including institutions such as the Piprahwa Museum.

Minister of Culture of the State of Qatar, Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, said Qatar’s participation as the Guest of Honour reflects the depth of bilateral relations between the two countries and reaffirmed the central role of culture and knowledge in strengthening people-to-people ties and nation-building.

Echoing similar sentiments, Spain’s Minister for Culture, Ernest Urtasun Domènech, highlighted his country’s participation during the Spain–India Dual Year 2026, noting that the Fair provides an important platform to promote Spanish writers in India, where interest in the Spanish language and literature continues to grow. He also recalled the historic literary connection between Juan Ramón Jiménez and Rabindranath Tagore.

This year, Qatar has been named the Guest of Honour, while Spain is the Focus Country, bringing with them rich literary traditions, contemporary voices, and diverse cross-cultural perspectives for Indian readers.

The theme of this year’s edition, ‘Indian Military History: Valour & Wisdom @ 75’, pays tribute to the courage, strategic acumen, and sacrifices of India’s armed forces, highlighting defining moments and narratives that have shaped the nation’s defence legacy over the decades.

Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman of the National Book Trust (NBT), India, said the Fair seeks to address three fundamental questions—why to read, what to read, and how to read—and aims to nurture a sustained reading culture, particularly among the youth. He pointed out that the national mottos of India, Qatar, and Spain reflect shared values of truth, progress, and collective participation, all of which resonate strongly with the spirit of the Fair.

At the same time, Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT, India, said, “Publishing for us is not an act of profit but an act of purpose. Every book released at the Fair contributes to nation-building.”

Organised by the NBT, India, under the Union Ministry of Education, the Fair brings together a vast and diverse literary ecosystem, featuring participants from over 35 countries, more than 1,000 publishers, upwards of 3,000 exhibition stalls, nearly 600 literary and cultural events, and over 1,000 speakers.

A day earlier, speaking at a press conference on Qatar’s role as the Guest of Honour Country, Mohammed Hassan Jabir Al Jaber, Ambassador of the State of Qatar, described the New Delhi World Book Fair as “one of the most prominent cultural platforms in the world.”

“India and Qatar are two ancient civilisations united by rich history and legacy of diverse cultural heritage. Qatar believes that a book is not merely a vessel of knowledge, but a powerful medium that fosters human understanding, transcending geographical, cultural and linguistic boundaries. The book fair will be a vibrant space for meeting of ideas and we hope that Qatar’s participation will enrich the event,” he added.

Highlighting the depth of cultural engagement, Jassim Ahmed Al Buainain, Director of the Doha International Book Fair, said, “The cultural relations between India and Qatar are deep. At the Qatari Pavilion at the book fair, activities and live events will feature key publications of our Ministry of Culture. The events will also highlight the importance of the Indian Expat community in shaping this culture.”

The Director of the French Institute in India, Grégor Trumel, also spoke about the importance of France’s participation and the dedicated French Pavilion at the Fair.

In addition, publishers, authors, and cultural institutions from countries including Russia, Japan, Poland, France, Abu Dhabi, Iran, Kazakhstan, Hungary, and Chile are participating through book launches, multilingual poetry evenings, cultural showcases, children’s literature sessions, and discussions on contemporary themes such as artificial intelligence, gaming, migration, and heritage.

For the first time, 10 international book fair directors representing major global platforms—including the Leipzig Book Fair, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Seoul International Book Fair, Tüyap Fairs and Exhibitions (Türkiye), Frankfurter Buchmesse, Book World Prague (Czech Republic), and the Gothenburg Book Fair (Sweden)—will take part in NDWBF 2026.

The NBT has also launched a Financial Assistance Programme (NBT FAP) to support both Indian and international publishers in translating Indian books into foreign languages, further strengthening India’s global literary footprint.

The Children’s Pavilion, Kidz Express, is expected to attract young minds with a range of activities such as storytelling, theatre, quizzes, art and craft, Vedic Maths, book design workshops, interactions with child authors, and dedicated creativity zones. Catering to the interests of Gen Z readers, the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya (ReP) is also showcasing over 6,000 free e-books through digital kiosks and QR-based downloads, promoting inclusive and multilingual access to reading across regions.