The Warsaw International Book Fair 2024 will feature nearly 600 exhibitors and around 1,000 authors, translators, and illustrators, including renowned figures like Norman Davies and Neal Shusterman. The event will be held from May 23-26 at the Palace of Culture and Science and Defilad Square. With free admission, it’s a fantastic opportunity for book lovers to meet their favorite authors, purchase books, and obtain autographs.
Diverse Events and Activities
This year, Italy is the guest of honor. At booth 133 in the Marble Hall, visitors can meet Italian publishers, authors, and cultural representatives. The program includes a children’s literature panel with Carlo Gallucci, Gaia Stock, and Jadwiga Jędryas, and an exhibition of beautiful book covers titled “Italian Stories” in the Goethe Hall foyer. The opening night will feature a concert by Daniele Di Bonaventura Band’Union & Ilaria Pilar Patassini.
The fair will also host various festivals and professional events, including the Comic Book Festival, Crime Festival, Reportage Day with the Ryszard Kapuściński Prize, and the Intergenerational Children’s Literature Festival. Additional highlights include a Young & New Adult Literature Festival autograph zone and meetings with international authors such as Chelsea G. Summers, Marco Gervasio, and Bora Chung.
Warsaw’s Literary Scene
Warsaw’s own literary program features talks, workshops, and thematic panels. Highlights include Igor Siedlecki’s lecture, workshops with Diana Lelonek, and a discussion on the history of comics. On May 24, the Żoliborz Cultural Center will host a panel on the crisis in the book market, featuring prominent figures like Leszek Nurzyński and Łukasz Zych.