The International Book Fair Bookfest 2026 starts on Wednesday, June 3 at Romexpo, in Pavilion B2, and runs until June 7. The event marks the 19th edition and marks 20 years since the first edition of the fair, initiated in 2006.
This year’s edition brings to Bucharest an extensive program of book launches, debates, autograph sessions and meetings with important authors of contemporary Romanian and international literature, along with the participation of a significant number of publishing houses and professionals from the publishing industry.
Bulgaria is the guest of honor at Bookfest 2026, with a delegation made up of writers, poets and creators of children’s literature, but also with an extensive program of events that exceeds 30 meetings, held both within the fair and in cultural spaces in Bucharest.
One of the central moments of the first day is the dialogue between Gheorghi Gospodinov and Mircea Cărtărescu, programmed under the theme “Inner geographies: Sofia, Bucharest and the literature of memory”, which opens the series of the main literary events of the edition.
The program includes, during the five days, book launches, conferences, debates of ideas and meetings with authors from Romania and abroad, covering both contemporary literature and essays, poetry or children’s literature. The events are complemented by autograph sessions and public discussions with writers and literary critics.
In parallel, Bookfest also includes a professional component dedicated to the publishing industry, with debates on translation, book circulation and international cultural collaborations, as well as meetings between publishers and literary agents from several European countries.
Bookfest 2026 is organized at Romexpo, and public access is free throughout the event. Visiting hours are daily between 10:00 and 20:00, with extended hours until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
