The fair introduces a new professional program called LBM Professional, which includes a Publishers Summit curated by Dr. Tobias Winstel. This event aims to bring together the owners and CEOs of the 100 largest publishing houses in the German-speaking region for panels and networking.
For the first time in its history, the fair presents three countries jointly as the guest country under the title “Beziehungsweise Europa.” The initiative is supported by the Polish Institute, the Institut français Deutschland, and the Goethe-Institut. Thorsten Dönges of the Literarisches Colloquium Berlin serves as the main curator for this program, which explores literary and political connections between the three nations.
Astrid Böhmisch, director of the Leipzig Book Fair, stated that the new focus on “Lifelong Learning” aims to encourage audiences to approach rapid societal changes with curiosity and self-efficacy. The fair also continues its educational initiatives, including the Youth Campus UVERSE and the Experimentierraum piks, to promote reading among children and young people.
The accompanying reading festival, “Leipzig liest ICONA,” will feature international stars of the literary and cultural scene over three evenings at the Kongresshalle am Zoo. Additionally, the fair will continue the NEW VOICES program in collaboration with the Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM) to facilitate discussions between publishers, debut authors, and production companies regarding film adaptations.
Tickets for the event will be available in the online ticket shop starting December 3, 2026. Martin Buhl-Wagner, managing director of the Leipzig Trade Fair, described the event as a shared experience where visitors explore new worlds through literature and publishing programs.