Publishers can now register for the 73rd Frankfurter Buchmesse (20–24 October 2021). Focusing on the topic “re:connect”, this year’s book fair is planned as an in-person event with additional digital formats, and can be flexibly adapted to pandemic-related developments. The focus will be on the international rights business and public events. This year’s Guest of Honour is Canada.
According to Juergen Boos, director of Frankfurter Buchmesse, Frankfurter Buchmesse will be an important meeting place – for the book industry, for authors and readers – in 2021. The industry needs an exchange and visibility more than ever. The decision to host this event on floor has been taken after in-depth discussions with customers. A plan, tailored to the needs of the exhibitors, has also been created.
The 73rd Frankfurter Buchmesse is being supported by funds from the German government’s NEUSTART KULTUR programme. This assistance is being passed along to exhibitors, which means they will benefit from significantly lower fees for exhibition stands.
It is planned to use Halls 3, 4 and 6, along with the Forum and the Festhalle. The Literary Agents & Scouts Centre (LitAg) will be found at a new site in Hall 6.2. Frankfurter Buchmesse’s innovation areas, THE ARTS+ and Frankfurt Audio, will be centrally located on Level 0 of the Forum. The presentation by Guest of Honour Canada will remain on Level 1 of the Forum. Once again, an expansive stage in the Festhalle will host a series of events organised together with broadcaster ARD and other media partners – and all events are to be streamed live. A flexible in-person table format, Frankfurt Workstations, has been developed for Halls 3, 4 and 6 and the Forum – tables can be booked on a daily basis.
The deadline for registering to participate on site in the fair is 31 May 2021.
In addition, Frankfurter Buchmesse is further developing its digital offerings, for example by optimising its Matchmaking tool and digital rights platform Frankfurt Rights. The Frankfurt Conference programme, and the successful networking venue, The Hof will be continued. The calendar of events and exhibitor catalogue will be available in the Frankfurter Buchmesse app and online.
A detailed hygiene plan and framework conditions which take pandemic-related developments into account will ensure that the in-person event can be held safely. Frankfurter Buchmesse intends to use a spacious layout for the exhibition halls along with significantly wider walkways in order to control the flow of visitors. This year, the smallest exhibition stand will be 8 instead of 4 square metres. The additional costs that result will not be borne by the exhibitors, but underwritten with funds from the German government’s NEUSTART KULTUR programme. All participants in the fair must register in advance. The number of visitors will be monitored and adjusted based on the infection-control regulations in effect in October. Frankfurter Buchmesse will be open to the general public one day earlier than usual, on the Friday of the fair (22 October 2021).
Under the slogan “Singular Plurality”, Canada, Guest of Honour, will offer a diverse programme to present its literature and culture at Frankfurter Buchmesse this year. With over 300 published and soon-to-be released titles in 2021 by 248 publishers, the Canadian literary scene has an extraordinarily busy year ahead.
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