57th Cairo International Book Fair

This event has ended. The next edition is 58th Cairo International Book Fair, 20 Jan – 2 Feb 2027.

The Cairo International Book Fair is the Arab world’s largest book event and a popular festival in its own right: the 2026 edition, the 57th, drew a reported 6.2 million visitors over two weeks. It opened officially on 21 January and was open to the public from 22 January to 3 February at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in New Cairo, with Romania as guest of honour. Alongside hundreds of Arab and international publishers, the fair runs author talks, poetry evenings, children’s programmes and translation seminars. Entry tickets are inexpensive and sold at the gates and online; weekdays are calmer than Fridays and weekends. Bring cash for bargains at the smaller publishers’ stands, and allow plenty of time to get across Cairo’s traffic to New Cairo.

About the fair

The Cairo International Book Fair was first held in 1969 and has taken place almost every year since. In 2019 it moved from its long-time home in Nasr City to the Egypt International Exhibition Center in New Cairo. Each edition names a guest-of-honour country and usually celebrates a leading Egyptian or Arab literary figure.

What to expect

Halls are organised by type of publisher, with large Egyptian and Arab publishing houses, government cultural bodies, international pavilions and a children’s area. Most books are in Arabic, but there is a good choice in English, French and other languages. The fair is a family outing for many Egyptians, so expect crowds of all ages.

Getting there

The exhibition centre is on the eastern edge of New Cairo, a long way from Downtown, Zamalek and Giza. When you leave, agree a clear pick-up point with your driver, as the roads around the halls get congested in the late afternoon and evening.

Planning tips

• January days in Cairo are mild and sunny but evenings are cool, so bring a jumper.
• Wear comfortable shoes: the halls are large and the fair easily fills half a day.
• Food stalls and cafes are on site, though queues can be long at lunchtime.
• Check the official programme for talks in English or with translation.