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International Festivals: France - Wales
FRANCE
Salon du Livre (Paris Book Fair)
Location: Paris
Date: March
The site is in French, but if you click on the small icon of the British flag, you will see an English version. Though the information is minimal, it is enough to tell you that this fair is huge! One day is devoted to trade industry professionals, but the other days are for the public. This is definitely worth checking out.
GREECE
Thessaloniki Book Fair
Location: Thessaloniki
Date: May
Four days, 400 exhibitors, 100 events (authors’ meetings, professional seminars, workshops, children’s corner) and school visits that cater to both industry professionals and the reading public. As befits the cornerstone of Western civilization, there is an emphasis on Greek authors and literature, though exhibitors and authors from all over the world attend.
HUNGARY
Budapest Book Festival
Location; Budapest
Date: April
This fair began as an attempt to create a “regional book fair and literary event based on the literary traditions of the open minded Hungarian audience and on the excellent geopolitical position of Hungary.” They have succeeded wildly. Watch this web site for details of their festival which, at the time of writing, were not yet available. However, it appears to be a superb one. (Click on the British flag to get the English-language version.)
INDIA
Kolkata International Book Fair
Location: Kolkata, India
Date: January-February
A massive international fair, it offers an almost unlimited array of events. Be forewarned that this fair has the most annoying home page I’ve seen for any book festival anywhere.
IRELAND
The British Council has a page that links to numerous UK literary festivals (far too many to list here). It is regularly updated, and festivals are listed by the month. Here are just a few.
Aspects Literature Festival
Location: Bangor
Date: September
This literary festival features a wealth of Irish writing talent with lively debates and erudite literary chats, workshops for budding authors with the chance to discuss writing with the star guests, and plenty of readings and book signings.
Between the Lines - Belfast Literary Festival
Location: Belfast
Date: April
It’s a small festival, but with a wide range of activities and authors: readings, talks, workshops, debates, music and more, from a host of local, national and international writers and performers.
Children’s Book Festival
Location: Dublin
Date: October
This festival is a major event for children, and is somewhat unusual in that its events occur nationwide in bookshops, libraries, schools, and in community and arts centers. They all focus on books and include author visits, drama events, music sessions, competitions and workshops. There is also an annual bookmark competition. Each year’s festival is kicked off with a Gala Lunch.
Dublin Book Festival
Location: Dublin
Date: March
This three-day festival around a theme chosen each year offers a wide variety of events—conversations, discussions, book launches, author luncheons, readings and performances, and special events for children.
Tipperariana Book Fair
Location: Fethard
Date: February
The Fethard Historical Society hosts this indoor one-day fair which features a lively café, a raffle, musical entertainment and more than 40 (mostlly antiquarian and secondhand) book dealers.
ISRAEL
Jerusalem International Book Fair
Location: Jerusalem
Date: February
Open to both the public and the trade, this festival runs from Sunday through Friday evening. Interviews, prize awards, music, author readings and presentations, book signings, storytelling and more fill this literary week.
KOREA
Seoul International Book Fair
Location; Seoul
Date: May
This festival features various seminars, events, special exhibitions, international publishers and a focus on Korean publishers.
MEXICO
Guadalajara International Book Fair
Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco
Date: November-December
This is both a trade and public event with several days given over to each.
NEW ZEALAND
Auckland Writers & Readers Festival
Location: Auckland
Date: May
A four-day literary weekend with author talks and presentations, lectures, a literary exhibition, readings, book signings, a poetry slam, theatre and more.
POLAND
Warsaw International Book Fair
Location: Warsaw
Date: May
Click on “Book Fair” to get links to the current (and past festivals). This is both a trade and public show, with two days in the beginning reserved for industry professionals, then several days of numerous events and exhibitors for the reading public.
SCOTLAND
The British Council has a page that links to numerous UK literary festivals (far too many to list here) throughout the UK. It is regularly updated, and festivals are listed by the month.
Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival
Location: Glasgow
Date: February
Glaswegian writing comes alive at this festival which also attracts Scottish and international authors as well. More than 60 events in the main program and 70 for schools hghlight this festival’s events.
Borders Book Festival
Location: Melrose
Date: June
A literary festival on the Scottish Borders. In addition to a large number of author presentations and book signings, some of the special events include a Festival Wine Bar, music, and a Gala Day at local schools.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Location: Edinburgh
Date: August
An extraordinary 17-day festival that offers 700 separate events, 600 authors, and more than 40 countries whose literature is represented. Discussion panels cover political, social and world events, writing and much more. There are book signings where you can meet your favorite authors, two bookshops, cafés, live music, Art in the Garden, and a children’s program with workshops, storytelling, panel discussions, author events and book signings. This may well be the world’s premier book festival.
STAnza Poetry Festival
Location: St Andrews
Date: March
The only regular festival dedicated to poetry in Scotland, StAnza engages with all forms of poetry: read and spoken verse; poetry in exhibition; performance poetry; cross-media collaboration; schools work; book launches; and poetry workshops.
Wigtown Literary Festival
Location: Various venues in and around Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway
Date: September-October
Held in Scotland’s national Book Town, this ten-day festival celebrates the book and reading with author panels and presentations, book signings, literary readings, group discussions, interviews, a poetry competition and book launches plus music, film, theatre and children’s programs.
Word Festival
Location: Aberdeen
Date: May
This festival terms itself “a weekend full of words,” and it is indeed that. Presented by the University of Aberdeen, it offers more than 80 events on the university campus that include readings, discussions, film screenings, music events, and art exhibitions with local, regional and international authors.
WordFringe
Location: Aberdeen
Date: May
This festival, which is centered in Aberdeen but also has events in Banchory, Banff, Ellon and Edinburgh, offers book and magazine launches, drama projects, a storytelling session, a performance poetry workshop, a comedy night, a competition for young writers, a special combination poetry/live music/dance event, as well as more conventional poetry and fiction readings.
SPAIN
Segovia Festival
Location: Segovia
Date: September
Discussions, talks, lectures and conversations with authors of important books, poets, journalists, playwrights and experts in their fields highlight this festival. It also includes a gala opening night, exhibitions, tours, readings and more.
SRI LANKA
Galle Literary Festival
Location: Galle
This festival, a new one, is nevertheless, amazing. Among its offerings are several literary lunches and dinners, private lunches with authors, debates, walking and bus tours, a Grande Finale, writing, cooking and yoga workshops, book launches, films, seminars, a poetry slam, theatre and music performances, readings, an extensive children’s programs including a writing competition and even more. Some are free, others have a cost.
SWEDEN
Göteborg Book Fair
Location: Göteborg
Date: September
An astonishing festival, one of the world’s largest public literary events with more than 750 writers and lecturers from 24 countries, 800 exhibitors, 426 seminars and mini-seminars (out of 2,000 programmes and events). Its main focus is Scandinavian literature and authors so there are numerous readings, panels and presentations. Each year, they also have a special focus (such as Estonia) so that literature from less well-known countries has the opportunity to share itself.
TURKEY
Istanbul Book Fair
Location: Istanbul
Date: October-November
Nearly 500 publishers and hundreds of writers, artists, scientists, journalists, politicians, guest writers and, most of all, bibliophiles weill meet and share numerous events. (Related book fairs in Turkey include the ones in Çukurova in January, in Bursa in March, and in Izmir in April. Information about them can be found on the web site.)
WALES
The British Council has a page that links to numerous UK literary festivals (far too many to list here) throughout the UK. It is regularly updated, and festivals are listed by the month.
Guardian Hay Festival: Hay-on-Wye
Location: Hay-on-Wye
Date: May-June
One of the largest literary festivals in the UK. Program events and performances cross literature with cabaret, cinema, circus, comedy, environment, film, music, politics, science, screenwriting and visual arts. The Children’s Festival Hay Fever runs alongside it every year.
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