Thessaloniki Book Fair 2024

20th International Thessaloniki Book Fair

16-19 MAY 2024

GUEST OF HONOUR: THE EMIRATE OF SHARJAH

The Thessaloniki International Book Fair celebrates twenty years of successful and dynamic presence in the book field. Since 2004, every May “We read books, we share ideas!” at the great book celebration. This year the fair takes place from 16 to 19 May, at the International Exhibition and Congress Centre TIF-HELEXPO. Even richer in terms of international participation and important initiatives for authors and book professionals, with the Emirate of Sharjah (UAE) as the guest of honour, TBF 2024 promises a unique experience for the readers, lovers of Greek and world literature of all ages.

TΒF and Intercultural Dialogue

Τhe 20th Thessaloniki International Book Fair is essentially a platform for intercultural dialogue and inclusion, with very important international collaborations and programmes that are constantly expanding, with Sharjah, the Guest of Honour, bridging Greek and Arab culture through books, with events and activities participating people and organizations from the fields of books, art, culture and science, with festivals and meetings, dialogue and contemporary matters.

Authors of the World in Thessaloniki

Important foreign authors are visiting the Thessaloniki International Book Fair again this year in cooperation with Greek publishers and educational institutes. Distinguished, multi-talented, restless spirits, from many different countries and fields, share with the audience their perspective on the world.

Among them are the award-winning Italian author Fabio Stassi (Ikaros),Yrsa Sigurdardottir from Iceland, with her crime novels (Metaixmio), Sebastian Fitzek from Germany, popular for his psychological thrillers, and the Italian crime author Carlo Lucarelli (Dioptra, with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute). Zulfu Livaneli, the best known Turkish music composer, extremely popular in Greece, is also coming to Thessaloniki with his books (Patakis).

In collaboration with the French Institute of Thessaloniki we meet Gilles Legardinier with his book J’ai encore menti!/I Lied Again (éditions Flammarion, Patakis) and Camille Laurens with her book Fille / Girl (éditions Gallimard, Metaixmio), while French illustrator Benjamin Strickler will be at the Children’s Corner.

The Goethe-Institut Thessaloniki in collaboration with Klidarithmos Publications presents in collaboration with Enypnio Publications, Germany’s Björn Kuhligk with The Language of Gibraltar, while German author Will Gmehling will meet his little friends at the children’s corner.

We will be joined by four authors who have won the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL), Martina Vidaić (Croatia, 2023 laureate), Marente de Moor (Netherlands, 2014 laureate, “The Dutch Virgin” in Greek by Vakxikon), Bianca Bellová (Czech Republic, 2017 laureate, “The Lake”, in Greek by Vakxikon), and Giovanni Dozzini (Italy, 2019 laureate, “Babucar was going first”,in Greek by Enastron).

Spanish author Pilar Tena presents her first book in Greek and, in collaboration with Etxepare Basque Institute and Vakxikon Publications, we will meet Basque poet Leire Bilbao.

We get to know “The Balkans from Inside and Outside” with Marija Dejanović and Denis Škofič (Thraka), as well as the poetry of Ireland with poets Louis de Paor and Biddy Jenkinson and anthologist and translator Kevin Anderson, a collaboration of Vakxikon Publications and Culture Ireland.

Rhea Krcmárová, a young but already renowned Austrian author and extraordinary soprano, will give an interactive presentation of her book, Monstrosa, with accompanying double bass in collaboration with the Austrian Embassy and the Austrian Consulate.

Hila Blum, one of Israel’s most popular authors, will also be with us with How to Love Your Daughter, as will Cara Hoffman, who shares her time between Athens and New York, with her Running (Gutenberg).

Maria-Kinuko Fukami, born in Japan, takes us on a journey through the world’s religions with Reconciliation (EAR), while distinguished astrophysicist Luciano Rezzolla (The Irresistible Attraction of Gravity, Sophia) invites us on a fascinating journey into the world of the physics of gravity and shares with us the first image of a supermassive black hole!

Guest of Honour 2024: The Emirate of Sharjah

The 2024 honoree is Sharjah (Sharjah-UAE), one of the seven Emirates and the intellectual center of the federal state of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The organization of the participation has been undertaken by the Sharjah Book Authority with the primary goal of developing a meaningful cultural dialogue between the two countries in the present era and, on the other hand, highlighting the historical ties that unite us since antiquity. Its program includes meetings of the younger generation of Greek and Arab writers and poets, panels on the “women’s novel” and its social role in the Emirates and Greece, discussions on the art of the short story, the cultural ties of Greek and Arab culture, but also on the influence of Greek philosophy on contemporary Arab and Greek literature.

At a professional level, initiatives are being taken to facilitate the rights, translation and publication of books by publishers on both sides. Ten books by contemporary Arab authors who will be in Thessaloniki have already been translated into Greek, and the aim is to translate Greek books into Arabic.

At the same time, workshops, screenings, musical events, collaborations and exhibitions with illustrators from both countries will be implemented, as well as an important collaboration with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Workshops for children, screenings and musical events will be implemented immediately after the DEVTH and in Athens, in collaboration with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Municipality of Athens.

2nd International Professional Program TBF

Sharjah-UAE, one of the seven emirates and spiritual centre of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is the Guest of Honour for 2024. The Sharjah Book Authority is organizing the event with the primary objective of developing a meaningful cultural dialogue between the two countries in the current era and highlighting the historical ties that bind us since ancient times. Its programme includes meetings of the younger generation of Greek and Arab authors and poets, panels on the “women’s novel” and its social role in the Emirates and in Greece, discussions on the art of the short story, the cultural ties between Greek and Arab culture, and the influence of Greek philosophy on contemporary Arab and Greek literature.

On a professional level, initiatives are taken to facilitate publishers in the purchase of rights, translation and book publishing. Ten books by contemporary Arab authors, whom we will get to meet, have already been translated into Greek while the aim is to translate Greek books into Arabic.

At the same time there will be workshops, screenings, musical events, collaborations and exhibitions participating illustrators from both countries, as well as an important collaboration with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Workshops for children, screenings and musical events will be held immediately after the TBF in Athens, in cooperation with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Municipality of Athens.

International collaborations

For twenty years, the IPA has participated in the international dialogue of the publishing industry, systematically cultivating relationships and collaborations as a member of the Forum of International Book Fairs since 2009 and of the European network of book fairs ALDUS UP. Each year, it develops and expands its international programme through collaborations with major European and international institutions. The European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) is strongly represented at the fair with award-winning authors, while Versepolis – European Poetry Network, the international networking forum PublisHer – Women in Publishing and the Basque Institute of Language and Culture Etxepare Basque Institute, among others, are also present and collaborate with the TBF. This year, TBF will host the annual meeting of ENLIT – European Network of Translation Programmes.

Cutting-edge topics: Artificial Intelligence and Women in Books

The main feature of this year’s TBF, “Man and Machine”, puts at the centre of the discussions the challenge of AI, especially in its application in the publishing industry, which affects and completely changes the way almost all the professions involved in the production of a book operate.

Another key theme reflecting contemporary concerns is Women in Books. Through discussions, actions and events, a first overview of the professional position of women in the book industry will be given, as well as a concise mapping of the intellectual and artistic production of women authors, which in part remains obscure even today. The international networking forum PublisHer – Women in Publishing will participate in the fair, while there will also be a presentation of a collection of dozens of titles translated into English from all over the world, a presentation of the booklet “Know her words” by PEN Greece, a panel with women from the book industry in Greece and abroad, and many other activities.

Stories from the Balkans will be presented for the second year, expanding dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding with the neighbouring countries. A tribute to author Yorgos Ioannou will be held in cooperation with the Vafopoulio Cultural Centre of Thessaloniki, which will present to the public his rich archive, as well as anniversary tributes to Franz Kafka, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his death, and to the greatest philosopher of modern times, Immanuel Kant, on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of his birth.

TBF's events-institutions

In cooperation with the participating publishers, organisations, institutes and groups, the 20th TBF continues this year its events, which have become institutions: The 10th Festival of Young Writers will present, among other things, its new project Poetry Black Box with videopoems by contemporary Greek poets and poets. There will also be the 8th Translation Festival, the 2nd Young Book Designers Award, the 2nd Meeting of Reading Clubs from all over the country with an open event on extroversion, volunteering and social contribution, as well as presentations of new publications, discussions, workshops, talks, round tables, screenings, visual and theatrical events, parallel cultural activities in the city and in wider Macedonia.

Children and Teenagers Corner

As every year, the events organized for children, teenagers and teachers are one of the most dynamic attractions of the fair and one of its main priorities for promoting love of reading. Organized visits of students, teachers and parents, book presentations, meetings with Greek and foreign authors and illustrators, theatrical, musical and artistic events, workshops, etc. are among this year’s rich programme. This year, the Network for Children’s Rights will organize educational programmes and other activities on children’s rights. Greek illustrators will share their works with the public, while stories from One Thousand and One Nights, tales of the Balkans and many other stories for young and old will be heard throughout the fair.

: 20ή Διεθνής Έκθεση Βιβλίου Θεσσαλονίκης

: 20ή Διεθνής Έκθεση Βιβλίου Θεσσαλονίκης

: 20ή Διεθνής Έκθεση Βιβλίου Θεσσαλονίκης

: 20ή Διεθνής Έκθεση Βιβλίου Θεσσαλονίκης

: 20ή Διεθνής Έκθεση Βιβλίου Θεσσαλονίκης

: 20ή Διεθνής Έκθεση Βιβλίου Θεσσαλονίκης

: 20ή Διεθνής Έκθεση Βιβλίου Θεσσαλονίκης

: 20ή Διεθνής Έκθεση Βιβλίου Θεσσαλονίκης

: 20ή Διεθνής Έκθεση Βιβλίου Θεσσαλονίκης

The Thessaloniki International Book Fair is organized by the Hellenic Foundation for Books and Culture in collaboration with the TIF-HELEXPO, the Greek publishers and the Municipality of Thessaloniki, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Region of Central Macedonia. It is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, as part of the Central Macedonia Regional Operational Programme 2021-2027. TBH is a member of the International Book Fairs Forum and the European Book Fairs Network ALDUS UP.