Frankfurt Book Fair to rejoin cultural fair

Video by Lin Songtao

The Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair), the world’s largest trade fair for books, will participate in the upcoming 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) next month.

The fair will bring approximately 100 of its award-winning books of the year, covering categories like children’s books, anime, and architecture. There are also plans to sell rights to German books and intellectual property rights at the fair, its chairman Juergen Boos shared during an interview Thursday.

A view of the Frankfurt Book Fair booth in Hall 10 at the 20th ICIF, held at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao'an District in May 2024. Cao Zhen

Boos said that he will connect with his team after returning to his country and have them attend the fair in May and seek more opportunities in fields ranging from books to streaming and games.

He expects new ideas from the fair and closer cooperation between the event and the Chinese publishing industry, with Frankfurt serving as a hub for international publishing.

Juergen Boos (R), president of the Frankfurt Book Fair, speaks to the media during an interview in Shenzhen on Thursday. Lin Songtao

Boos said Shenzhen holds a unique geographic position in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area that gives visitors easy access to many other cities in the region.

Boos first visited Shenzhen over 15 years ago. “I’ve always loved the city because it’s so vibrant and lively. The city is full of modern buildings, and the people are very open,” he said.

The Frankfurt Book Fair has been organized by Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH since 1949 and is held in Frankfurt every October.

At last year’s ICIF, the Frankfurt Book Fair displayed 44 German-language children’s books, 29 children’s books released in 2023, eight award-winning German architectural books, and 44 of Germany’s most beautiful books from 2022 and 2023.

A visitor browses a German-language book at the Frankfurt Book Fair booth during the 20th ICIF in May 2024. Cao Zhen

The 21st ICIF will be held at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an District from May 22 to 26.