From pages to civilizations: Egypt starts a new cultural journey at 57th Cairo Book Fair

CAIRO – 21 January 2026: With the opening of its doors to readers, thinkers, and families from across Egypt and beyond, the 57th Cairo International Book Fair began today as an outstanding cultural journey that promises visitors far more than books alone.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly inaugurated the fair on Wednesday, a day before it is set to open for the public.

The 2026 edition invites audiences to explore literature, history, children’s imagination, and global dialogue in what organizers describe as the largest and most diverse edition in the fair’s history.

Running from January 21 to February 3 at the Egypt International Exhibitions Center (EIEC) in New Cairo, the fair presents a rich cultural and intellectual program that reflects its status as one of the region’s most prominent cultural gatherings.

Held under the slogan “Whoever stops reading for an hour falls centuries behind,” a quote by the late Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, this year’s edition celebrates reading as a cornerstone of awareness, progress, and human development.

Notable personalities, guest of honor

In a symbolic tribute, Mahfouz was named personality of this edition, honoring his enduring literary legacy and transformative role in shaping the modern Arabic novel.

For the first time in its history, the fair is also celebrating a pioneer of children’s book illustration, honoring the late Mohieddin El-Labbad for a career that blended imagination and visual beauty and left a lasting imprint on generations of young readers.

Romania was chosen as Guest of Honor, opening new horizons for cultural exchange and dialogue between the two countries through a rich and diverse program of events.

A Record-Breaking Edition

Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Hano said the 57th edition marks a historic milestone for the fair, describing it as the largest since its inception.

 

He promised audiences an exceptional cultural experience inspired by the spirit of Egyptian creativity.

The significance of this edition is heightened by its timing, the minister explained, pointing to the recent opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, a global cultural event that has once again drawn international attention to Egypt’s ancient civilization and rich heritage.

This global momentum, he said, is reflected in the fair’s identity and cultural program, which place Egyptian history and national identity at the heart of creativity and knowledge.

This year’s edition features 1,457 publishing houses from 83 countries, with a total of 6,637 exhibitors, underscoring the fair’s firmly established international standing.

Global Voices and New Initiatives

The fair hosts a distinguished lineup of Arab and international poets, thinkers, and writers, including Adunis, Shawqi Bazigh, Hassan Najmi, Ibrahim Nasrallah, Waciny Laredj, and Inaam Kachachi, alongside a wide range of academics and cultural figures.

The program also includes an important professional track, with the participation of the president and the secretary general of the International Publishers Association.

‘Library for Every Home’

The minister announced the launch of a new initiative titled “A Library for Every Home,” aimed at restoring books to their central place in everyday Egyptian life.

 

The initiative features a curated selection of 20 diverse titles published by the ministry’s sectors, in addition to a special “Naguib Mahfouz collection, comprising 15 of his most prominent works, making knowledge more accessible to the public.

In celebration of Egypt’s rich intangible cultural heritage, the fair also introduces, for the first time, the “Ahlena wa Nassna” Camp, showcasing folk traditions from across Egypt’s governorates.

This joins a cultural salon, a children’s pavilion, and a vibrant artistic program, reinforcing the fair’s role as a renewed Egyptian cultural message to the world, one that reflects the state’s belief in culture as a foundation for awareness, identity, and human dialogue.

Romania’s Cultural Presence

Romanian Ambassador to Cairo Olivia Toderean expressed her country’s pride in being named Guest of Honor.

She explained that Romania’s participation comes as part of preparations to mark 120 years of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Romania in 2026.

The ambassador described the fair as an exceptional platform for engaging with the Egyptian public and building lasting cultural and human bridges between the two nations.

The Romanian program includes 30 events over 13 days, with the participation of 60 guests, including 15 artists, 10 Romanian publishing houses, and four university presidents or vice presidents, in addition to three high-level figures, among them the Romanian culture minister, who attended the opening ceremony.

A Legacy Since 1969

Founded in 1969 as part of Cairo’s millennium celebrations, the Cairo International Book Fair has grown into one of the largest and most influential cultural gatherings in the Arab world and beyond.

With its 57th edition, inaugurated today, the fair once again invites visitors on a journey, through books, ideas, and civilizations, affirming that reading remains Egypt’s gateway to the future.