Publishers have until 31 October 2026 to apply for the 58th Cairo International Book Fair, as the General Egyptian Book Organization continues to receive submissions from publishing houses in Egypt, across the Arab world and internationally. The fair will run from 20 January to 2 February 2027 at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in New Cairo. Applications and stand bookings can be submitted electronically through the fair’s dedicated publishers’ platform. Registration opened on 1 October, with organizational preparations continuing ahead of the next edition of one of the region’s major publishing events.
Qatar will participate as guest of honour, as announced at the close of the fair’s 57th edition, when it formally received the guest-of-honour designation on 3 February 2026. Its participation forms part of cultural cooperation between the two countries and preparations for the Egypt–Qatar Year of Culture, offering an opportunity to introduce Qatar’s literary and intellectual landscape to the fair’s audience. Building on the country’s presence at previous editions, the forthcoming appearance will provide scope for closer connections among writers, publishers and cultural institutions in both countries, while bringing Qatari creative work to a wider Arab readership.
First held in 1969, the Cairo International Book Fair has developed into one of the Arab world’s longest-established book fairs, bringing together publishers, cultural figures and readers from Egypt and beyond each year. Over more than five decades, its scope has expanded to combine book displays with discussions, artistic and cultural events, and activities for children, appealing to a broad range of audiences. This mix gives publishers direct access to readers while allowing visitors to discover diverse literary and intellectual perspectives, sustaining the fair’s role as both a publishing marketplace and a gathering place for cultural dialogue.