THE PARK, 12 JANUARY 2026
Only 10 days left and the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair will be inaugurated on 22 January 2026 at 4 pm at the Boimela Prangan, Salt Lake, by our Hon’ble Chief Minister, Smt. Mamata Banerjee, in the presence of Mr Gustavo Canzobre, eminent author of Argentina, H.E. Mr Mariano Agustin Caucino, Ambassador of Argentina in India, as Special Guests of Honour, along with our authors, dignitaries, and Hon’ble Ministers of our state.
The following are the highlights of this year’s International Kolkata Book Fair:
- There will be 1000-plus participants in the IKBF 2026.
- Senior Citizens’ Day, ‘Chiro Tarun’, will be celebrated on 30 January. Children’s Day will be celebrated on 1 February 2026.
- There will be nine entry and exit gates in the IKBF. Two gates will be based on Argentine architecture. There will be Gates in the name of Prafulla Roy, Pratul Mukhopadhyay, who left us in the near past. To commemorate the 125th birth year of Sailajananda Mukhopadhyay, another Gate will be named after him. The Little Magazine pavilion will be named after poet Rahul Purakaystha. There will be a Mayukh Chowdhury Children’s Pavilion to commemorate his birth centenary.
- The birth centenary year of Salil Chowdhury, Dr Bhupen Hazarika will be celebrated in the Book Fair by a cultural program and a panel discussion on 26 and 27 January, respectively.
- For the first time, the venue of the Book Fair will be directly connected by Metro from Howrah to Karunamoyee and Central Park via Esplanade. As such, a huge number of booklovers from all over Kolkata, Howrah, and other districts will avail Metro to reach the Book Fair venue. On our request, Metro Railway authorities have decided to increase the frequency of the Metro Service. The last Metro will be available around 10 pm on all the Fair days. A special booth will also be there at the Fair, the visitors can book a ticket by UPI from that booth.
- International Kolkata Book Fair 2026 Android app to locate any stall in the fair using Google location, created by Sister Nivedita University. Also, the IKBF 2026 will have virtual live presence through the website and social media pages of the Book Fair. Sister Nivedita University is our Digital Partner.
- Digital ground map with the participant list of the IKBF 2026 will be available just by scanning the QR Code at all the entry points of the Book Fair.
- A special medical assistance service with ambulance by Peerless Hospitex Hospital And Research Centre Limited,- the Health Partner of IKBF 2026.
- Meghbela Broadband will be the Exclusive Broadband Partner of Book Fair 2026
- Around 20 Countries across the globe will participate in the International Kolkata Book Fair 2026.
- “Buy books and win a Library” – The daily lottery will be organised, and the winners will win Book Gift Coupons.
- State Bank of India – our official Banker to whom we are deeply indebted for providing full banking facilities, ATM, and E-services in the Fairground.
- We are also indebted to HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company, Official Insurer of the IKBF 2026.
- National Jute Board – we are indebted to them, our Green partner.
The major attraction of the International Kolkata Book Fair that we all look forward to will be the 12th edition of the Kolkata Literature Festival, which will be held in the SBI auditorium on 24 and 25 January 2026. Today, we have with us Ms Malavika Banerjee, curator of KLF, who will give a brief sketch of KLF 2026.
