Residence of Argentina, New Delhi, 17 December 2025:
The countdown has already begun for the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair 2026—the largest attended book fair in the world, recognised by IPA Geneva. The fair is scheduled from 22 January to 3rd February 2026 at the Boimela Prangan, Salt Lake City, Kolkata
Last year, 2.7 million people visited the book fair, and books worth 23 crores INR were sold. We are amazed at this landmark moment created by the book lovers.
You are already aware that in the history of the International Kolkata Book Fair, for the first time, Argentina is the Focal Theme Country of the International Kolkata Book Fair 2026. It’s a known fact that the Argentine footballers have a huge fan base in Kolkata. But Argentina does not stand for football only. Argentina is also a great land of diverse literature and culture. To name a few literati, Victoria Ocampo, Borges, Cortazar, Roberto Arlt, and Bioy are intangible parts of the culture and literary discourse of Kolkata.
Today, we are very happy to host this National press conference at the Residence of Argentina, New Delhi. H.E. Mr. Mariano Agustin Caucino, H.E. Ambassador of Argentina in India, is with us. It is our honour and pride to announce that he will be present at the grand inaugural ceremony of the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair 2026 on 22 January 2025 as the Guest of Honour. Today, he will apprise you in detail about Argentina’s participation in the book fair.
Like its previous editions, the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair too will be totally digitized, allowing book lovers from different parts of India and abroad to be connected with the colorful programmes of the fair.
In the upcoming Book Fair, 25 January 2026 will be celebrated as ‘Theme Country Argentina Day’. On 29 January 2026, Guild will commemorate ‘Senior Citizens’ Day’ in honour of the aged. All the National and multinational players of the publishing industry, like Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Bloomsbury, Rupa, Pan Macmillan, Orient Black Swan, Oxford University Press, Om Books International, Pearson, and others will have their own pavilions in the International Kolkata Book Fair 2026.
We are also happy to announce that countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, Spain, Peru, Costa Rica, and other Latin American countries are participating. Also, there is direct participation of publishers from almost all parts of India—Delhi, Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bhopal, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and others.
Commemorating the birth centenary of the Megastar (Maha Nayak) of Bengali film, Uttam Kumar, there will be a special exhibition hall titled ‘History of Bengal Cinema and Mahanayak’, to be curated by Shri Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya. Apart from this, the IKBF 2026 will also commemorate the birth centenary of author and activist Mahasweta Debi by way of naming an auditorium of the Fair in her name. A special cultural program and an interactive session will be organised to celebrate the birth centenary of maestro singers and composers Dr Bhupen Hazarika and Salil Chowdhury.
The 12th edition of Kolkata Literature Festival (KLF) 2026—an integral part of the Book Fair will be held at the auditorium of the fairground on 24 and 25 January 2026. The KLF 2026 will have the presence of internationally acclaimed literary personalities, dignitaries, and celebrities in various interactive sessions. Each day of the KLF will be concluded with musical and dance performances in the evening. We extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all our media friends who have taken the trouble to cover this National Press Conference.
