Gothenburg Book Fair

The Gothenburg Book Fair is Scandinavia’s largest literary festival, held annually in Gothenburg, Sweden, since 1985. Taking place in the last week of September, it draws around 100,000 visitors and 900 exhibitors to the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre.

• Scandinavia’s largest literary festival
• Held at the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre
• Around 100,000 visitors each year
• Features 900 exhibitors from the book industry
• Founded in 1985 as a trade fair for librarians and teachers

What it is

The Gothenburg Book Fair, known locally as Bokmässan, is a major annual event that brings together authors, publishers, librarians, teachers, and book lovers from across Sweden and beyond. Over the years, it has grown from a trade event for professionals into Scandinavia’s largest literary festival, offering a vibrant space for the exchange of ideas, discovery of new books, and celebration of literature in all its forms. The fair is a key moment in the Swedish cultural calendar, where visitors can meet writers, attend talks, and explore a vast marketplace of books.

Where it comes from

The fair began in 1985 under the name Bibliotek 85, initially aimed at librarians and teachers. Its first edition attracted about 5,000 visitors. As interest in literature and reading grew, so did the fair’s scope and popularity, transforming it into a major public event. Today, it stands as the second largest book fair in Europe, after Frankfurt, and has become a significant cultural and economic occasion for the city of Gothenburg.

How it is celebrated

During the fair, the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre in Gothenburg is filled with the buzz of literary activity. Visitors can browse through hundreds of stalls from publishers and booksellers, attend readings and panel discussions, and listen to talks by celebrated authors. The event features a mix of Swedish and international voices, and covers a wide range of topics, from fiction and poetry to current affairs. The fair is also a meeting point for professionals in the book industry, but its doors are open to the public, making it a lively and inclusive celebration of books and ideas.

Joining in

If you’re visiting Gothenburg during the last week of September, the Book Fair is a highlight not to miss. Most of the action takes place at the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre, which is easily accessible in the city. Expect large crowds, a packed program of events, and plenty of opportunities to discover new books and meet authors. Whether you’re a dedicated reader or simply curious, you’ll find something to enjoy in the fair’s welcoming atmosphere.

Sources and attribution

This page is Mela's own summary, written in new words. Its facts are drawn from the Wikipedia article Gothenburg Book Fair, whose text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Each photo is credited to its author beside it. For the full account, read the originals below.

Read more

• Gothenburg Book Fair on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Official websiteOfficial site
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data

This page was written with AI assistance from the sources listed above, and checked automatically before publishing. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-02.