France - Zimbabwe

FRANCE
Salon du Livre (Paris Book Fair)
Location: Paris
Date: March 2013
The site is in French, but if you click on the small icon of the British flag, you will see an English version. Though the information is minimal, it is enough to tell you that this fair is huge! One day is devoted to trade industry professionals, but the other days are for the public. This is definitely worth checking out.

GERMANY
Frankfurt Book Fair
Location: Frankfurt
Date: October 10-14, 2012
The fair is open to both trade professionals and, on Saturday and Sunday, to the public.  What attendees will find here is lots of books (and even an antiquarian fair), publishers, authors, and lots of readings and other author-centric events.

International Literature Festival
Location: Berlin
Date: September 5-15, 2012
Authors from all over the world appear here to particpate in panel discussions, readings, and special program sections exploring literature, cultural, political and social topics, children’s and youth literature, talks, and more.

GREECE
Thessaloniki Book Fair
Location: Thessaloniki
Date: May 24-27, 2012
Four days, 400 exhibitors, 100 events (authors’ meetings, professional seminars, workshops, children’s corner) and school visits that cater to both industry professionals and the reading public. As befits the cornerstone of Western civilization, there is an emphasis on Greek authors and literature, though exhibitors and authors from all over the world attend.

GUERNSEY
Guernsey Literary Festival
Location: Guernsey
Date: May 13-16, 2012
This remarkable island is launching its first book festival in 2011, and what a delight it promises to be. Among the sixteen authors who will be appearing are Annie Barrows (of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society) and Tim Binding who set one of his novels in occupied Guernsey during WWII. Special events include Bloney Good Times Meet the Authors and Murder in the Library, Visit to the Guernsey Press, Bibliotherapy, Community Art Poem, Poems on the Buses, playreading, a theatre workshop, storytelling, poetry readings, and many  more. Some events are free, others require tickets.

HUNGARY
Budapest Book Festival
Location; Budapest
Date: April 19-22, 2012
This fair began as an attempt to create a “regional book fair and literary event based on the literary traditions of the open minded Hungarian audience and on the excellent geopolitical position of Hungary.” They have succeeded wildly. Watch this web site for details of their festival which, at the time of writing, were not yet available. However, it appears to be a superb one. (Click on the British flag to get the English-language version.)

Hay Festival Budapest
Location: Budapest
Date: May 4-5, 2012
This off-shoot, one of several of the original Hay Festival, brings together the best of Hungarian, Central European, English speaking and international authors and thinkers to celebrate the sharing of stories and ideas.

INDIA
Jaipur International Literary Festival
Location: Jaipur
Date: January 24-28, 2013
The largest literary festival in Asia-Pacific, this one encompasses a range of readings, talks, debates, performances, children’s workshops, and interactive activities held on the grounds of the Diggi Palace. It brings writers and readers from all over India and the world so what visitors can also find here is a large selection of books from Indian authors in languages other than English. Events include sessions on various subjects, authors of all genres who mingle with attendees, an astonishing array of presentations over the five days (and time out for tea every day) including award ceremonies, and evening performances.

New Delhi World Book Fair
Location: New Delhi
Date: February 5-10, 2013
India is the third largest home of publishers (after the U.S. and UK) as well as the third largest market for English publications, and this festival is it’s oldest book fair. More than 1,300 exhibitors from around the world. Events include not just the exhibits—such as children, science and technology, Hindi and languages—but book launches, seminars, meet-the-author events, and special pavilions. Beginning in 2012 there will be a national youth fiction award designed to recognize Indian youth writers.

IRELAND
The British Council has a page that links to numerous UK literary festivals (far too many to list here). It is regularly updated, and festivals are listed by the month. Here are just a few.

Anthlone Literary Festival
Location: Anthlone
Date: October 5-7, 2012
Growing out of the John Brokerick Weekend, this festival enlarged its focus to include writers, poets, novelists, biographers, publishers, literary agents, academics, wits and especially readers who come for a series of events that include lectures, readings, exhibitions, workshops and social events held around town.

Aspects Literature Festival
Location: Bangor
Date: September 26-30, 2012
This literary festival features a wealth of Irish writing talent with lively debates and erudite literary chats, workshops for budding authors with the chance to discuss writing with the star guests, and plenty of readings and book signings.

Bloomsday
Location: Dublin
Date: June 10-16, 2012
If you’ve read Ulysses, this is the festival for you with films, talks, a bike rally and lunch (with Joycean-dressed participants), readings, a roundtable, music, the famous breakfast, teas, walking tours and more.

Children’s Book Festival
Location: Dublin
Date: October 1-31, 2012
This festival is a major event for children, and is somewhat unusual in that its events occur nationwide in bookshops, libraries, schools, and in community and arts centers. They all focus on books and include author visits, drama events, music sessions, competitions and workshops. There is also an annual bookmark competition. Each year’s festival is kicked off with a Gala Lunch.

Cork Spring Poetry Festival 
Location: Cork
Date: February 15-18, 2012
Readings of poetry dominate this festival beginning with the opening night wine reception and going through to Saturday. Most but not all events have a small charge. There is also a writing workshop, a Poetry Masterclass, offered during four days of the festival as well as the awarding of the Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Prize.

Dromineer Literary Festival
Location: Dromineer
Date: October 11-14, 2012
Readings, an art exhibition, a wine-and-cheese opening night party, writing workshops and competitions, and a family picnic-and-storytelling event highlight this lovely local literary festival.

Dublin Book Festival
Location: Dublin
Date: November 16-18, 2012
This three-day festival around a theme chosen each year offers a wide variety of events—conversations, discussions, book launches, author luncheons, readings and performances, and special events for children.

Dublin Writers Festival
Location: Dublin
Date: June 4-10, 2012
This five-day festival hosts native and international writers, poets, journalists, political commentators and others for events that include readings, discussions, debates and public interviews as well as the awaring of the  International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

Ennis Book Club Festival
Location: Ennis
Date: March 1-3, 2013
This one-of-a-kind festival is designed solely around the reader. Among its offerings are author readings, discussions, workshops and walking tours, advice on organizing book clubs and reading lists, chocolate tastings, cookery demonstrations and something called Gaeilge. And it is not limited to fiction readers; the program also includes poetry, food, travel and memoir writing. Here is your opportunity to mingle with others who also love reading.

Immrama
Location: Lismore
Date: June 7-10, 2012
Immrama is an old Irish word for journey, and it is the perfect word for this festival that focuses on travel writing. Events include presentations by travel writers, storytelling workshops, poetry readings, award presentations, a literary breakfast, a Gregorian mass, special events in the park and fringe events such as an art exhibition, piano recital, music club and farmers’ market.

Listowel Writer’s’ Week
Location:Kerry
Date: May 30 - June 3, 2012
Writers’ Week calls itself “the place to be for the literary-minded over an extended period.” From Wednesday through Sunday, attendees will find a wide variety of events that include a fireworks extravaganza, an art exhibition, readings, lunchtime theatre, lectures, films, a poet’s corner, book launches, and literary and historical tours.

Poetry Now Festival
Location: Dún Laoghaire
Date: September 4-9, 2012
The largest festival of poetry in Ireland brings together poets of many nationalities, languages, styles and concerns for four days of workshops, talks, debates, readings, awards and more.

Tipperariana Book Fair
Location: Fethard
Date: February 10, 2013
The Fethard Historical Society hosts this indoor one-day fair which features a lively café, a raffle, musical entertainment and more than 40 (mostlly antiquarian and secondhand) book dealers.

West Cork Literary Festival
Location: Bantry
Date: July 8-14, 2012
A week-long festival that includes an opening wine reception, exhibitions, morning, lunchtime, afternoon and evenings readings and events, tours, lectures, the Festival Club, even late night events.

N. IRELAND
Belfast Book Festival
Location: Belfast
Date: June 11-18, 2012
One of the more spectacular book festivals in Northern Ireland, this one encompasses events Words at Play (“the story starts here”: storytelling, interactive events, writers in schools, puppet-making workshops, writing workshops, all for children and tweens); Poetry (“words to delight and inspire”: book launches, poetry performances, storytelling, a poetry slam, illustrated lectures, readings, discussions, author appearances, conversations); From Page to Screen (“literature’s influence on cinema”); Things to See and Do (“an exploration of the written word); Something Different (“words brought to life”); Book Festival Extra (“something more”).

Hay Festival Belfast
Location: Belfast
Date: May 31 - June 10, 2012 
This festival takes place the same time as the orignal Hay festival in Wales with a selection of highlights brought especially to Northern Ireland.

ISRAEL
Jerusalem International Book Fair
Location: Jerusalem
Date: February 2013
Open to both the public and the trade, this festival runs from Sunday through Friday evening. Interviews, prize awards, music, author readings and presentations, book signings, storytelling and more fill this literary week.

JAMAICA
Calabash International Literary Festival
Location: Jamaica
Date: May 25-27, 2012
A three-day literary festival filled with workshops, seminars, films and performances by authors and musicians that calls itself “earthly, inspirational, daring and diverse.”

KENYA
Nairobi International Book Fair
Location: Nairobi
Date: September 26-30, 2012
This fair, organized by the Kenya Publishers Association, emphasizes locally published books and magazines. However, they are attracting a number of international exhibitors who showcase their books for the trade as well as the public. 

Storymoja Hay Festival
Location: Nairobi
Date: September 15-18, 2012
Writers, travelers, storytellers, artists, and innovators from around the world gathered in Kenya for the Storymoja Hay Festival to share ideas and stories in the heart of Kenya’s capital city. In addition to authors there are events including several master classes, various writing and storytelling workshops, the Festival Opening Gala Dinner, poetry workshops and events, and more.

KOREA
Seoul International Book Fair
Location: Seoul
Date: June 20-24, 2012
Though the website has very little information on the festival program, what it does have is enticing. Hundreds of exhibitors from around the world will show their wares to the public on the second through fifth days of the festival (the first being reserved for trade professionals. There is a small entrance fee.

LEBANON
Hay Festival Beirut
Location: Beruit
Date: July 4-6, 2012
One of the international off-shoots of the original Hay Festival, this fair brings the most exciting voices of Beruit contemporary culture to the city for three days. Writers, journalists, bloggers and thinkers come together to talk, debate and offer workshops.

LITHUANIA
Vilnius International Book Fair
Location: Vilnius
Date: February 21-24, 2013
Attracting more attention over time, this fair goes out of its way to entice attendees not just with authors but with special events like the Discussion Club that offer events not connected to any specific publishing house or publication. Rather, the theme of the discussions found here is usually connected with main topic or motto of the year. Another unique event allows visitors take part in creative workshops, readings, meetings with the creators of Lithuanian children’s literature, and book illustrators from home and abroad. The aim of this is to show the development of the book from ancient times to today. Children have “You Can Create a Book,” where they can learn to draw, model, color maps, learn to type in Braille, and socialize with studio guests and famous book illustrators. And there is also the Book Cinema Hall, the Illustrarium,  the travelling international youth social project, Live Library, book awards, accelerated readings, and unusually for a book fair, a hall for second-hand booksellers to show their wares.

MEXICO
Guadalajara International Book Fair
Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco
Date: November 24 - December 2, 2012
This is both a trade and public event with several days given over to each.

NEW ZEALAND
Auckland Writers & Readers Festival
Location: Auckland
Date: May 9-13, 2012
A four-day literary weekend with author talks and presentations, lectures, a literary exhibition, readings, book signings, a poetry slam, theatre and more.

POLAND
Warsaw International Book Fair
Location: Warsaw
Date: May 190-13, 2012
Click on “Book Fair” to get links to the current (and past festivals). This is both a trade and public show, with two days in the beginning reserved for industry professionals, then several days of numerous events and exhibitors for the reading public.

RUSSIA
Moscow International Book Fair
Location: Moscow
Date: September 5-10, 2012 
This fair is the largest one is Russia with more than fifty participating countries, 1,500 companies, and 500 business and cultural events coming together for six days. More than 200,000 new books in dozens of languages were displayed. New all- Russia competitions (Bibliopartnership, Leading of Reading, and Book Prize of Runet) were begun in 2011. There is an author’s area where literary discussions, writers’ speeches, and author-reader interactions take place, the Science Book Fest for popular science literature, a book multimedia open-air festival, and the new Knigovorot (“Book Turnover”) where every visitor can exchange a book already read for a new one on a special stand.

SCOTLAND
The British Council has a page that links to numerous UK literary festivals (far too many to list here) throughout the UK. It is regularly updated, and festivals are listed by the month.

Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival
Location: Glasgow
Date: March 9 & March 17, 2012
Glaswegian writing comes alive at this festival which also attracts Scottish and international authors as well. More than 60 events in the main program and 70 for schools hghlight this festival’s events.

Borders Book Festival
Location: Melrose
Date: June 14-17, 2012
A literary festival on the Scottish Borders. In addition to a large number of author presentations and book signings, some of the special events include a Festival Wine Bar, music, and a Gala Day at local schools.

Edinburgh International Book Festival
Location: Edinburgh
Date: August 11-27, 2012
An extraordinary 17-day festival that offers 700 separate events, 600 authors, and more than 40 countries whose literature is represented. Discussion panels cover political, social and world events, writing and much more. There are book signings where you can meet your favorite authors, two bookshops, cafés, live music, Art in the Garden, and a children’s program with workshops, storytelling, panel discussions, author events and book signings. This may well be the world’s premier book festival.

NewWords
Location: Aberdeen
Date: September 2012
This festival, which is centered in Aberdeen but also has events in Banchory, Banff, Ellon and Edinburgh, offers book and magazine launches, drama projects, a storytelling session, a performance poetry workshop, a comedy night, a competition for young writers, a special combination poetry/live music/dance event, as well as more conventional poetry and fiction readings.

STAnza Poetry Festival
Location: St Andrews
Date: March 14-18, 2012
The only regular festival dedicated to poetry in Scotland, StAnza engages with all forms of poetry: read and spoken verse; poetry in exhibition; performance poetry; cross-media collaboration; schools work; book launches; and poetry workshops.

Wigtown Literary Festival
Location: Various venues in and around Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway
Date: September 28 - October 7, 2012
Held in Scotland’s national Book Town, this ten-day festival celebrates the book and reading with author panels and presentations, book signings, literary readings, group discussions, interviews, a poetry competition and book launches plus music, film, theatre and children’s programs.

Word Festival
Location: Aberdeen
Date: May (returns in 2013)
This festival terms itself “a weekend full of words,” and it is indeed that. Presented by the University of Aberdeen, it offers more than 80 events on the university campus that include readings, discussions, film screenings, music events, and art exhibitions with local, regional and international authors. 

SOUTH AFRICA
Cape Town International Book Fair
Location: Cape Town
Date: June 15-17, 2012
This festival is massive with publishers from 30 countries on the African continent and nearly three dozen international countries represented. More than 470 separate events take place over a four-day period, and better than 200 South African authors appear along with a number of international authors. Among the events are book launches, readings, debates, book signings and panel discussions, workshops, performances and two literary award ceremonies.

SPAIN
Segovia Festival
Location: Segovia
Date: September 27-30, 2012
Discussions, talks, lectures and conversations with authors of important books, poets, journalists, playwrights and experts in their fields highlight this festival. It also includes a gala opening night, exhibitions, tours, readings and more.

SRI LANKA
Galle Literary Festival
Location: Galle
Date: January 18-22, 2012
This festival, a new one, is nevertheless, amazing. Among its offerings are several literary lunches and dinners, private lunches with authors, debates, walking and bus tours, a Grande Finale, writing, cooking and yoga workshops, book launches, films, seminars, a poetry slam, theatre and music performances, readings, an extensive children’s programs including a writing competition and even more. Some are free, others have a cost.

SWEDEN
Göteborg Book Fair
Location: Göteborg
Date: September 27-30, 2012
An astonishing festival, one of the world’s largest public literary events with more than 750 writers and lecturers from 24 countries, 800 exhibitors, 426 seminars and mini-seminars (out of 2,000 programmes and events). Its main focus is Scandinavian literature and authors so there are numerous readings, panels and presentations. Each year, they also have a special focus (such as Estonia) so that literature from less well-known countries has the opportunity to share itself.

SWITZERLAND
Geneva Book Fair
Location: Geneva
Date: April 25-29, 2012
A spectacular fair, this offers hundreds of authors and exhibitors, incredible exhibitions; Scenes (the Books Kitchen, the Open Stage (formerly the Literature Café), the Laboratory for New Reading, and L’Apostrophe); a comic strip workshop for young adults, and much more over its five days.

TURKEY
Istanbul Book Fair
Location: Istanbul
Date: November 17-25, 2012
Nearly 500 publishers and hundreds of writers, artists, scientists, journalists, politicians, guest writers and, most of all, bibliophiles weill meet and share numerous events. (Related book fairs in Turkey include the ones in Çukurova in January, in Bursa in March, and in Izmir in April. Information about them can be found on the website.)

UNITED ARAB EMIGRATES
Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature
Location: Dubai
Date: March 5-9, 2013
This festival offers a diverse array of panel discussions, in-depth interviews, poetry readings, debates, workshops & master classes featuring authors from all over the world, more than 150 events altogether including the Opening Night event, Heritage Evening, and Literary Tea.

WALES
The British Council has a page that links to numerous UK literary festivals (far too many to list here) throughout the UK. It is regularly updated, and festivals are listed by the month.

Children’s Literature Festival
Location: Cardiff 
Date: March 20-24, 2013
This festival is a new one, opening in 2013. It will bring together some of the best contemporary children’s writers and illustrators. It will promote literacy and the arts with an inventive and accessible programme of cultural events in key venues across Cardiff, in both the Welsh and English language.

Guardian Hay Festival: Hay-on-Wye
Location: Hay-on-Wye
Date: May 31 - June 10, 2012
One of the largest literary festivals in the UK. Program events and performances cross literature with cabaret, cinema, circus, comedy, environment, film, music, politics, science, screenwriting and visual arts. The Children’s Festival Hay Fever runs alongside it every year.

ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe International Book Fair
Location: Harare
Date: July 30 - August 1, 2012
There is no festival website at this time. You can reach them by calling +263-(0)4-702104/8, 707352, 705729  or through this e-mail address:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it