Dear friends, dear readers,
At its meeting on April 1, 2020, the board of directors of the Association of Czech Booksellers and Publishers has decided to cancel this year’s Book World Prague.
In the past weeks the option of moving Book World to an autumn date had been pondered. The board has now responsibly assessed the situation, reaching the conclusion that future development is too uncertain and threats faced by the entire book profession too grave for a successful and dignified book fair to be staged.
During these weeks and months, our field is literally struggling to survive. Without quick and substantial help from the state, the retail network will crumble, which will have a domino effect on the publishers. We can see it happening already, as the financial flow within the profession has practically stalled. In the long term, the book market contributes significantly to the state budget, and now it requires some urgent help – not only to become an active contributor to state finances again as of next year, but mainly because a wide offer of books has a lasting positive effect on the overall levels of education, competitive ability and reader literacy. We firmly believe that the state will not allow the book market to collapse. However, even with the state’s assistance, majority of the adverse effects will have to be borne by the profession itself. As things stand, it is therefore impossible to predict in what condition the potential exhibitors will find themselves in autumn and whether or not they would be prepared to bear the costs connected with the book fair.
At the same time we wish to show solidarity with the booksellers, from whom the book fair would divert a proportion of their incomes at a time when they will hopefully start recovering from the decline. They will be literally counting every penny.
We believe that you will understand our decision and offer us all the more support at Book World Prague to be held in May 2021, which, as we all hope, will be a celebration of the book profession’s survival. Our team does not just passively stand by – we are becoming actively involved in projects designed to rescue our profession, about which we will inform you within the next few days.
Svět knihy, s.r.o.
Second Press Release (March 3) (*.doc)
For the 26th Book World Prague, the international book fair and literary festival’s organisers chose Poland as the main guest. The programme to be held at the Holešovice exhibition grounds in Prague on May 14 to 17 is the result of Czech-Polish co-operation and its most distinctive feature is diversity. Its visitors will meet authors of popular crime novels, some of the most remarkable prose writers, as well as authors of renowned Polish poetry – slam poetry included. The list of the most eagerly awaited guests is headed by the doyen of Polish fantasy literature Andrzej Sapkowski. Author of the Witcher saga, which has achieved cult following, returns to the festival after ten years. The multifaceted nature of Polish culture will also be reflected by The Book Night, introducing a rich blend of genres, colourful children’s programme, and debates focusing on the famed Polish school of reportage.
The international book fair and literary festival Book World Prague enters its 26th season. From 14th to 17th May 2020, Exhibition Grounds at Prague-Holešovice will again host many inspiring encounters with foreign and domestic authors and their work. For the main topic, the organisers have chosen The Heart of Global Discord, or, as the more succinct but untranslatable Czech version goes, Střed/t světa, playing on střed or the centre, and střet, meaning conflict.
The event will emphasise both meanings evoked by the two words with shared pronunciation, i.e. the centre as well as the conflicts of contemporary world. The topic also corresponds nicely with this year’s guest of honour – Poland. After a decade our neighbours return to Book World Prague, courtesy of co-operation with the Warsaw Book Fair. Czech-Polish co-operation is also reflected in the Book World’s visual designs.
Photos from Book World Prague 2019 here.
New logo and gryf here.
Record-breaking Book World Prague 2019 - Final Press Realease
BOOK WORLD PRAGUE 2019 in numbers
Total number of visitors: 51,000
Book Fair:
Number of exhibitors: 461
Number of displays: 214
Exposition area: 3 790 m2
Literary festival:
Number of performers: 769
Number of programmes: 685
Number of exhibitions: 17
Participating countries and regions (both as exhibitors and part of programme):
Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, U.S.A.
The book fair and festival presented guests from a total of 39 countries and regions of the world.