BEIRUT - As the Beirut Arab International Book Fair marks its 67th edition, organizers are looking beyond book sales to strengthen literary exchange, support publishers and encourage deeper reading in an increasingly digital world.
A Cultural Space in Times of Uncertainty
Since its establishment in 1956, the Beirut Arab International Book Fair has sought to bring together writers, publishers and readers. In its 67th edition, the fair is reaffirming that role while responding to economic pressures, technological change and wider challenges facing Lebanon and the region.
For Salwa Baassiri, vice president of the Arab Cultural Club and chair of the fair's organizing committee, the event's purpose extends beyond presenting new publications. It is also an opportunity to create space for dialogue, critical thinking and cultural exchange.
“Culture is the most powerful weapon in confronting crises, and it will remain Lebanon's civilizational face,” Baassiri told enmaeya, describing the fair's guiding vision.
This year's edition features approximately 95 cultural events, including discussions and dialogues covering a range of intellectual and social subjects. Some sessions also pay tribute to figures who have played significant roles in Lebanese and international history, reflecting the organizers' belief that cultural and intellectual contributions can help societies navigate periods of uncertainty.
The fair has also introduced graphic art sections highlighting the role of lettering, illustration and cover design in book production, alongside a reading garden intended to connect the environment of intellectual activity with the natural surroundings.
The additions reflect an effort to present books not simply as finished products but as part of a broader cultural experience.
Bringing Publishers Together
A notable development in the 2026 edition is the cooperation between the Arab Cultural Club, which has organized the fair since its early years, and the Lebanese Publishers Association.
Baassiri described the partnership as a natural alignment between organizations connected by a shared commitment to books and publishing.
She added that they both recognized the benefits of combining their efforts for publishers, readers and the wider cultural community. Culture Minister Ghassan Salame also helped bring the parties together, contributing to an agreement that enabled the current edition to proceed through cooperation.
The partnership comes as Lebanon's publishing industry faces several pressures, including declining purchasing power among traditional readers, book piracy and concerns about intellectual property violations. Baassiri also pointed to the use of artificial intelligence to produce written material in place of human creativity as an emerging challenge.
She said addressing these issues requires consistent follow-up, effective enforcement of existing laws and adherence to ethical standards to protect authors, publishers and readers.
The fair, she added, provides publishers with a setting in which they can present their work with confidence that counterfeit books will not undermine their efforts. It also promotes new releases across participating publishing houses, encouraging visitors to explore a wider selection of titles.
Discounts offered during the event are another means of helping readers purchase books despite financial constraints.
Reading Beyond the Scroll
The expansion of digital platforms has changed how younger generations encounter information, presenting book fairs with a different challenge: attracting readers whose attention is increasingly shaped by fast-moving online content.
Baassiri does not view the fair as competing directly with social media. Instead, she sees digital platforms as a means of introducing younger audiences to books and encouraging them to attend in person.
“The book offers a form of reading that guarantees a deeper exploration of meaning and substance,” she said.
Unlike rapid, fragmented consumption of online content, she argued, reading a book requires concentration, mental clarity and critical reflection.
The fair uses social media to promote its program and showcase the opportunities it offers for readers to meet authors, exchange ideas and engage with the wider cultural community.
Accessibility, however, involves more than attracting visitors. The program aims to address different age groups and intellectual interests, while discussions surrounding new publications allow people to engage with ideas even when purchasing the books themselves is beyond their means.
Baassiri also highlighted discounts offered by publishers, particularly their potential benefit for university and school students.
More Than a Marketplace
For the organizers, the fair's value lies as much in the conversations it enables as in the books it sells.
“It is not a commercial marketplace for selling books,” Baassiri said. Rather, she described it as a space where readers can encounter the intellectual and human experiences authors seek to share.
Many new publications are accompanied by discussions involving writers, publishers and readers. These exchanges allow visitors to ask questions and receive direct responses from authors, creating opportunities for engagement that may not arise when reading independently.
The wider cultural program also opens discussions on intellectual, social and human questions, extending the fair's reach beyond the publishing industry.
Initial feedback from visitors and participating publishers has been positive, according to Baassiri, who said organizers had observed strong interest in both the event and new releases.
Looking Ahead
When preparations for the next edition eventually begin, the organizers intend to build on this year's experience, respond to emerging cultural developments and broaden participation among Arab and international publishers who were unable to attend in 2026.
For Baassiri, the fair's continued relevance depends on preserving its role as a meeting place for people and ideas while adapting to changing circumstances.
In a society facing economic constraints and rapidly evolving media habits, the challenge is not simply to persuade people to buy more books. It is to sustain the spaces in which reading becomes an exchange of ideas, an exercise in critical thought, and a connection between writers and the communities they address.
