35th Doha International Book Fair: Expansion and Digital-Age Reading Initiative
35th Doha International Book Fair: Expansion and Digital-Age Reading Initiative
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The 35th edition of the Doha International Book Fair has officially opened, featuring 520 publishers from 37 countries, reflecting a significant expansion in the fair’s cultural presence despite challenges facing the publishing industry and declining print readership in the digital era.
The fair is being held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center from May 15 to 23, 2026, showcasing approximately 1.85 million books across more than 231,000 titles, alongside 919 exhibition stands. This edition also features the launch of 143 new publications, as well as dozens of seminars, panel discussions, and workshops covering topics in culture, publishing, and digital transformation.
First launched in 1972 with participation from only 20 publishers under the supervision of the Qatar National Library, the fair has grown over five decades into one of the region’s leading cultural events, with significant growth in both participants and publications.
This year’s edition emphasizes promoting reading culture among younger generations, including five interactive children’s zones and a “Book Bus” visiting 12 Doha schools to encourage student engagement with books in a digital-dominated environment.
The fair also highlights the role of Qatari cultural institutions. Museums are presenting multilingual catalogs and art publications, while the Qatari Authors Forum features over 100 new works by local and resident writers, accompanied by specialized lectures and intellectual seminars. The Qatar National Library is introducing interactive AI-based activities, such as “Meet Your Literary Twin,” connecting readers with authors matching their reading preferences.
Additionally, Qatar University Press continues to expand its scholarly output, releasing 20 new books this academic year, part of a total of 103 publications spanning legal, social, humanistic, and cultural fields.
