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Svět knihy Praha will celebrate its 30th anniversary

In 2025 (May 15-18), International Book Fair and Literary Festival Svět knihy Praha will feature Portugal as Guest of Honor. Portugal will bring its vibrant literary tradition and contemporary voices to the heart of Europe. This special recognition highlights Portugal’s rich history of storytelling, from iconic writers like Luís de Camões, Fernando Pessoa and José Saramago to contemporary authors shaping the global literary scene. The program will offer a large variety of events, including readings, discussions, and cultural presentations that will display Portugal’s literary diversity, from poetry to prose and children’s literature. The Czech audience will have the unique opportunity to engage with Portuguese authors, translators, and publishers, providing a deeper understanding of Portuguese culture, language, and literary innovation. Through the position of Guest of Honor, Portugal will emphasize the role of literature as a bridge between cultures, enriching the festival with its dynamic literary presence.

Svět knihy Praha will celebrate its 30th anniversary. For this occasion, the festival will display its rich history with a celebration of literary innovation. This milestone event is designed as a journey through three decades of storytelling, exploring the transformative power of literature in shaping culture, society, and individual perspectives. The festival will build momentum through a carefully curated selection of programs, from retrospectives on the evolution of Czech and global literature to vibrant discussions on contemporary trends and the digital future of books. The festival will be a collection of chapters moving between historic reflections to fresh and visionary conversations, and establish focus on bridging past, present, and future literary landscapes.

As a combination of those dimensions, the festival chooses for motto the quote of the Portuguese author Ricardo Reis: "30! Energy of the Youth – Wisdom of Books". The motto blends the vibrant and challenging spirit of youth with the timeless knowledge found in literature, crafting a path that celebrates the dynamic interplay between innovation and tradition. The festival will explore how the energy of young voices – emerging writers, poets, and creatives – fuels new ideas, disrupts conventions, and reinvents literature. Meanwhile, the wisdom of books, drawn from centuries of literary heritage, serves as a guiding force, offering depth, insight, and continuity. This theme is designed to highlight the dialogue between youthful creativity and the enduring lessons of the written word, creating a festival atmosphere where boldness meets reflection. The festival will be working as a bridge, connective the energy and the wisdom. The program will culminate in moments where these two forces converge, illustrating how the energy of youth and the wisdom of books can coalesce to shape the future of literature.

Competition for the Best Exposition of the Book World Prague 2024

The Competition for the Best Exposition at the 29th International Book Fair and Literary Festival Book World Prague 2024 has its winners and prize winners. 

Book World Prague 2024 Highlights

Read about the most interesting events from 29th International Book Fair and Literary Festival Book World Prague.

 

Book World Prague 2024 attracted about 60,000 visitors

The 29th International Book Fair and Literary Festival Book World Prague held at the Prague Exhibition Grounds from Thursday 23 May to Sunday 26 May attracted about 60,000 young as well as adult readers. The most popular authors were, as expected, the married couple Alexandra and Alexander Ahndoril and Irish novelist John Boyne. The visitors also loved Berlin storyteller Olivia Wenzel, German writer Lin Rina, Russian-writing writer of Armenian origin Narine Abgaryan, cartoonist and illustrator Nicolas Mahler, German novelist Bernhard Schlink, French comic author Alexis Nolent aka Matz, or one of the greatest contemporary Swiss writers Peter Stamm. Czech writers did amazing, too, especially Karin Lednická, Radka Denemarková, Bianca Bellová, poet Petr Borkovec, sci-fi writer Ondřej Neff and the winner of this year’s Magnesia Litera Award Alena Machoninová. The Jiří Theiner Award was awarded remotely to Elif Şhafak. Just like last year, young readers had a lot of fun at the section dedicated specifically to them. The topic of Literature as the Voice of Freedom resonated again with the current social and political situation in the world, as did the programme of Ukrainian literature, which continues to help Ukrainian refugees maintain contact with their language and literature. The upcoming 30th edition will take place at the Prague Exhibition Grounds from 15 to 18 May 2025. Next year’s guest of honour will be Portugal.

In addition:

Statement to a targeted missile attack occurred on the Faktor-Druk book printing plant

Our book industry is currently experiencing the biggest book celebration of the year, enjoying the extremely positive and energizing atmosphere of Book World Prague. Nevertheless, and for the very same reasons, please pay attention to the following lines. 

The heart of Ukrainian book and printing industry is the city of Kharkov, in the east of the country. On Thursday, the very first day of Book World Prague, a targeted missile attack occurred on the Faktor-Druk book printing plant, one of the largest in Europe, affiliated with the Vivat publishing house. This structure produces a large number of textbooks and children's books. Production lines were destroyed, seven employees of the printing plant were killed and dozens were injured. 

Please read more in the attached letter.

Book World Prague 2024 will welcome guests from 40 countries and regions

The International Book Fair and Literary Festival Book World Prague 2024 will feature 801 performers, a third more than the previous year, providing an insight into contemporary literature of 40 countries and regions. The programme of the festival, which will take place from 23 to 26 May at the Prague Exhibition Grounds, will include a wide range of authors and styles. Children’s and YA literature will be represented by Irish novelist John Boyne whose book The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has become a contemporary classic. Except others we will host the stars of German-language literature: Bernhard Schlink, Peter Stamm or Tanya Stewner, since the guest of honour of the 29th edition is the traditional festival project of Das Buch entitled for the 2024 edition Das Buch – German-Language Literature. The motto of this edition of Book World Prague is a quote by Franz Kafka: “A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within” and the fair commemorates the centenary of the death of this world-renowned author through a number of events. More in the Press Release.

Central and East European Book Market

The second edition of the professional programme section of Book World Prague

This is the second time the International Book Fair and Literary Festival Book World Prague features a programme section entitled the Central and East European Book Market. 

CEEBM serves as a platform enabling book industry professionals from Central and Eastern Europe to meet and exchange experience. This edition is characterized by a marked increase in interest in one-to-one business meetings and panel discussions on topics such as bibliodiversity and the search for opportunities for international communication through literature and film.

See more information in final press release.

Information on the next edition of Book World Pilsen and Book World Prague

We have an important announcement regarding the Book World Pilsen 2024. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to organize it this year due to the reconstruction of the DEPO2015 venue, which coincides with our event. We apologize for informing you only now, but we were still hoping to find a solution. As we would not like to change the established venue, we hope to see you again in the newly renovated space in 2025.

However, we do know the dates of the next two editions of Book World Prague, which we are pleased to share with you:

  • May 15 - 18, 2025
  • May 14 - 17, 2026

We are looking forward working together again.

The team Svět knihy.

GUEST OF HONOR DAS BUCH will present German-language literature

The programme is prepared by the Goethe-Institut Czech Republic, the Austrian Cultural Forum in Prague and the Swiss Embassy in the Czech Republic. Das Buch presents contemporary literature from Germany, Austria and Switzerland in its entirety: from fiction and children's literature to philosophy, comics, slam poetry and zines. Their work, often in new Czech translations, will be presented by first-class authors, including the Austrian State Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature winner Michael Stavarič, the latest winner of the German Book Prize Tonio Schachinger, and one of the greatest Swiss writers Peter Stamm, who is returning to the Book World Prague. Bestselling author Judith Hermann will be coming from Germany, as well as Kafka's most important biographer Reiner Stach. Franz Kafka's legacy as a link between the German language and Prague also features strongly in the programme of the 29th edition, which falls in the year of the centenary of Kafka's death. In addition, the motto of Book World Prague is a Kafka quote: "A book must be an axe for the frozen sea within us." Das Buch brings together themes related to philosophy, inclusion in its various forms and children's literature. A rich literary programme and book offer will attract literature lovers to the Prague Exhibition Grounds from 23 to 26 May.

 More information can be found in the attached press release. 

https://bit.ly/presscentrumsvetknihy24

 

 

Book World Prague 2024

You are all invited to the International Book Fair and Literary Festiva Book World Prague which will be held from 23rd to 26th May at the Prague Exhibition Grounds. 

The programme of the 29th edition reflects the centenary of the death of Franz Kafka. Which is why this year’s guest of honour is the traditional festival project of Das Buch entitled for the 2024 edition as Das Buch – German-Language Literature.

It will present authors and speakers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The programme commemorating Kafka’s anniversary will feature his work and the sources of inspiration it provided. The legacy of the Prague-based writer who wrote in German is also reflected in the visuals by the graphic studio of Pavel Fuksa, as well as in the motto of this year’s edition, which is Kafka’s quote: “A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us”.

The name of Franz Kafka, as well as the names of other important Czech writers such as Jaroslav Seifert and Karel Čapek, were also used to rename the festival halls. Apart from the literature of German-speaking countries, the festival will continue with its programme supporting young readers as well as the well-established section entitled Literature as the Voice of Freedom which provides space for those who cannot speak freely.

More information is available in the press release. 

For more information visit our press centre: https://bit.ly/presscentrumsvetknihy24

If you have any questions or would like to interview Director Radovan Auer or Dramaturg Guillaume Basset, please contact:

Pavla Umlaufová          

e: pavla.umlaufova@piaristi.cz

t: +420 723 901 326

Book World Pilsen 2023 fills up the DEPO2015 spaces on September 22-23

Around five dozen exhibiting publishing houses will present their publishing activities from the first half of the year as well as their currently published titles. The programme of the festival is mixed in such a way as to interest both mainstream readers and the public or young readers coming with teachers or parents. This year's dramaturgy will focus, among other things, on the topic "Authors Without Borders", which are crossed physically and mentally. The premiere of the project Gallery of New Titles will provide visitors with a broader overview of book production for the autumn and Christmas market 2023. The DEPO2015 area will be open for the book fair and literary festival visitors from 8:45 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Details of the programme can be found in the attached PRESS RELEASE and on our websites.

You can download the PROGRAMME CATALOGUE, print-quality photos and graphics at the press center.

If you have any questions, please contact Jana Chalupová, jana.chalupova@svetknihy.cz, +420 603 439 943.

 

For lovers of literature, the Book World Pilsen returns in its original two-day format

The Book World team is currently preparing the 4th edition of the international book fair and literary festival - Book World Pilsen 2023. It will fill the DEPO2015 spaces on September 22 and 23. Around six dozen exhibiting publishing houses will present their publishing activities of the first half of the year as well as their recently published titles. The festival program is intended for both the lay or professional audience and young readers coming with their teachers or parents.

Renowned and young domestic authors will appear in the literary festival. This year's dramaturgy will focus, among other things, on the theme "Authors without borders", where borders are being overcrossed not only between countries, but also in the minds and work of authors and each of us. The premiere of the New Titles Gallery will provide visitors with an overview of just released book production for the autumn and Christmas market.

Book World Prague 2023 exceeded attendance expectations last weekend

The International Book Fair and Literary Festival Book World Prague returned to the Prague Exhibition Ground in Holešovice from 11 to 14 May 2023 and was unique especially in terms of its theme. The concept of “Authors Without Borders” emphasized all authors transgressing notional borders and even exceeded the attendance expectations. Over the course of four days, Book World Prague drew almost 60 thousand readers. The festival featured Russian literary provocateur Vladimir Sorokin, Ukrainian literary star Serhiy Zhadan and German crime writer Volker Kutscher. The most popular Czech authors voted by visitors were Alena Mornštajnová, Kateřina Tučková and Michael Žantovský. The Jiří Theiner Award went to Iranian women and men fighting against oppression. Book World Prague presented the new Central and East European Book Market project, the Growing with a Book section dedicated to young readers proved its popularity again and the festival did not ease up on its support for Ukraine and helping Ukrainian refugees maintain contact with their language and literature. Visitors to Book World Prague 2023 were able to find hundreds of exhibitors in all the newly reconstructed Křižík pavilions while the programme part took place at the Prague Exhibition Grounds in tents. The 29th edition will take place on 23–26 May 2024 and will focus on literature by German-speaking authors.

* PRINT-QUALITY PHOTOS from all programmes can be downloaded after their viewing at: https://bit.ly/foto-SKP2023

 * Please, credit the photos when using them as: ARCHIV SVĚT KNIHY PRAHA 2023. (BOOK WORLD PRAGUE 2023 ARCHIVE)

 * ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS are provided by our Press Centre at: https://bit.ly/presscentrumsvetknihy2023

Records of particular years of Book World Prague held in the years 2017 - 2022

As a valuable source of information about the program, dramaturgy and course of the last years of the literary festival and book fair Book World Prague, download the pdf programs, final media prints or press releases.