The Alexandria International Book Fair concluded its twenty-first edition to widespread celebration and optimism, having broken participation and attendance records in its history. The fair hosted more than 600 publishing houses from 40 countries around the world and witnessed exceptional public turnout that surpassed one million visits over its fourteen days, a figure that embodies the growing thirst for reading in Egyptian society and the expanding cultural presence of Alexandria on the regional stage.
The cultural programme accompanying the fair filled a packed schedule, with the event hosting over 200 diverse activities including dialogues with leading Arab literary figures, creative writing workshops, and seminars on issues of translation and the publishing industry in the digital space. Among the most prominent events was an open session with the celebrated novelist who has carried the torch of the Arab novel in the diaspora, alongside the Arab Translators Forum, which discussed the complexities of conveying Arabic literature into world languages.
On the sales front, publishers reported that book sales rose by 23% compared to the 2025 edition, noting that Egyptian youth literature novels and translated fiction topped the bestseller lists. Sections dedicated to scientific and technical books also witnessed unprecedented interest, reflecting a growing awareness of the importance of reading in scientific disciplines among newer generations. Mathematics, artificial intelligence, and environmental sciences topped the bestseller lists within these sections.
In his closing remarks, the chairman of the Egyptian General Book Organisation affirmed that the Alexandria Fair embodies a civilisational message that transcends the boundaries of the book trade, becoming instead a space for dialogue between cultures and a bridge between generations. He announced an ambitious plan to develop the infrastructure for next year’s fair, including new halls and digital technologies that allow virtual browsing of the fair for those unable to attend in person.
This fair cements Alexandria’s position as a continuously renewing cultural capital that draws inspiration from its ancient historical heritage while looking toward a rich digital future. At a time when reading is declining in many Arab countries in the face of the digital media torrent, the Alexandria Book Fair proves that the printed book still holds its enduring place in the Arab reader’s consciousness and continues to be valued by new generations.