Words move worlds: Leipzig Book Fair 2025
- Written by Portal Editor
Words have the ability to touch hearts - but also to break them. They drive social change, for better or for worse. Some words stick with us or shape the world without us being aware of it.
The Leipzig Book Fair has always been an international festival of words that brings authors, readers, publishers and service providers together in the spring - be it at the readings and discussion rounds at the fair, or at the almost 3,000 events of “Leipzig liest”, Europe's largest reading festival. Under the motto "Words move worlds", the book fair invites you to celebrate the power of words from March 27 to 30, but also to question them critically. Also present: the guest country Norway and new trade fair formats such as the Forum Mensch & AI: Brave New World?, the Audiowelt and the BL:OOM BloggerRoom. Manga, anime and comic fans are looking forward to the scene's big spring meeting at the Manga-Comic-Con, which is taking place in conjunction, in 2025.
Get your tickets for the literary event of the spring from December 3rd!
"Through texts and language, people can bring about changes that often have a more lasting effect than actions - both positive and negative. Words must therefore be chosen wisely! We are proud to have successfully provided a platform for those who have mastered this art - authors and publishers - for decades," says Martin Buhl-Wagner, Managing Director of the Leipzig Trade Fair.
New at the Leipzig Book Fair: "Forum Humans & AI: Brave New World?" and Audio World
"Words open up new perspectives for us, create bridges and openness - but at the same time they can also divide and mobilize destructive forces. We also see this ambivalence in the field of artificial intelligence and society. In our new Forum Humans & AI - Brave New World? we are intensively examining the two sides of the coin, progress and risks, with various, also interactive event formats," says Astrid Böhmisch, Director of the Leipzig Book Fair.
In addition to what is said, the way in which something is said has an immense impact on how we perceive words and language. If you like listening to books, the new audio world of the Leipzig Book Fair is the right place for you. On the audio stage, prominent speakers and authors present new releases; in the audio lounge, the audience can linger, listen to new releases and experience live podcasts.
In addition to the traditional channels, many literature fans are increasingly or even exclusively using BookTok, Bookstagram and Book Tube channels to find out about new releases or to exchange ideas. The BL:OOM, the new BloggerRoom at the Leipzig Book Fair, is the central contact point especially for all book bloggers, book tokers and book tubers who are playing an increasingly important role in the literary and media landscape. Here they can edit their videos in peace, network and enjoy a literature program curated especially for them.
In the #buchbar, trade fair visitors meet their stars and have the opportunity to have their favourite book autographed in the large signing area. At the now established Open Society Forum, the public is invited for the first time to join in the discussion about current social and political issues. In Hall 5, the independent publishers will once again be presenting their new products.
One of the largest exhibition areas in 2025 will again be the education sector with its specialist program FOKUS Bildung. The number of exhibitors in the children's and youth and fantasy sectors has also continued to grow. The diverse offerings for the public are complemented by the broad specialist program for the book and media industry. Anyone interested in rare and historical books and graphics should visit the 31st Leipzig Antiquarian Book Fair. It will also take place in conjunction with the book fair.
Even more festival atmosphere and stars of Norwegian literature in Leipzig
When one literary event follows the next all over the city and well-known authors can be found on the streets, then it's that time again: Leipzig reads! Almost 3,000 events are taking place at hundreds of reading locations - including, for the first time, the spring version of "Best First Books", an event in cooperation with the Leipzig Literature Festival Literary Autumn.
"Dream in Spring" is the slogan of Norway's guest country appearance at the Leipzig Book Fair 2025. It stands for the idea of a new beginning that is associated with spring. Something new, fresh and unknown is on the way. Almost 40 participating Norwegian authors and illustrators want to ensure encounters between German readers and Norwegian literature in this spirit. The host of the guest country appearance is NORLA - Norwegian Literature Abroad.
For the first time at the book fair, Armenia and the Philippines are also showing the diversity of their contemporary literature. The Czech Republic and Romania are expanding their presence. The TRADUKI network is once again presenting authors from Southeast Europe.
Leipzig Book Fair Prize 2025: five new faces on the jury
Katrin Schumacher (MDR Kultur) will chair the jury for the Leipzig Book Fair Prize until 2027. Together with Kais Harrabi, Judith von Sternburg, Zita Bereuter and Thomas Hummitzsch, she will support jury members Cornelia Geißler and David Hugendick in selecting the winners from the 506 submissions.
Manga-Comic-Con 2025: The annual highlight for fans and creatives in the scene
Manga, anime and comic fans are looking forward to the most important German spring event in the scene and to seeing many artists again, especially the Japanese guests of honor. Hundreds of exhibitors and publishers will ensure that there is something exciting for the community to discover in 2025. A special highlight is the final of the new Cosplay Performance Championship Germany (CPMD).
A note for trade fair visitors who turn 18 in 2024 or 2025: The Culture Pass from the Minister of State for Culture and Media can be used to visit the Leipzig Book Fair or to buy books in the Hugendubel bookstores. More information at: https://www.kulturpass.de/ueber-den-kulturpass
The Leipzig Book Fair will take place from March 27 to 30, 2025. Advance sales with online discounts start on December 3, 2025. An overview of all ticket prices, whether day tickets or season tickets for the entire trade fair period, can be found at: https://www.leipziger-buchmesse.de/de/besuchen/tickets-preise/
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