While waiting for the upcoming Vilnius Book Fair, visitors are invited to familiarize themselves with the history of the event and discover lesser-known facts about the event that has become a tradition.
1. Vilnius book fair – twenty five
in 2025 The Vilnius Book Fair is being organized for the twenty-fifth time. in 1999 A Baltic book fair was organized at LITEXPO, which traveled through the capitals of the Baltic countries every year. In Vilnius, it attracted a lot of interest from readers, so since 2000. a separate Vilnius book fair was started to be organized, initially housed in one hall of the Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Center LITEXPO.
2. Special fair date
In the first years of the fair’s existence, some readers wondered whether it would not be better to organize the fair in a warmer season. However, February was not chosen by chance – the Vilnius Book Fair is included in the catalog of world fairs and its date is coordinated with other book fairs taking place in the world.
3. To the rhythm of readers: online book sales were presented for the first time at the Vilnius Book Fair
The book fair acquaints the literary field community with not only literary but also technological news: for example, in 1999 At the Baltic Book Fair in Vilnius, readers could purchase the first Lithuanian electronic book on CD, and in 2002 The publishing house “Vaga” presented a new thing in Lithuania at the Vilnius Book Fair – online book sales. In recent years, the fair has paid a lot of attention to increasingly popular electronic and audio books.
4. World-renowned writers at the Vilnius Book Fair
Every year, dozens of foreign authors come to the Vilnius International Book Fair, but the organizers remember how difficult it was to invite them more than twenty years ago. At that time, some foreign writers perceived the trip to the fair even as a kind of exoticism – they wanted to see a part of Europe that was little known to them.
However, for more than twenty years, the Vilnius Book Fair has been visited by many world-famous foreign writers: the author of the novel “Paaulis pagal Garpa” John Irving, Norwegian literary star Herbjørg Wassmo, writer Joanna Harris, the famous book “Chocolat”, the classic novel “Thornbirds” author Colleen McCullough, Italian writer Alessandro Baricco, teen favorite Melvin Burgess, author of “Sofia’s World” Jostein Gaarder, French writer Frédéric Beigbeder and many others.
“Litexpo” photo/Vilnius Book Fair 2023
5. The Music Hall, which has been in existence for ten years
Since 2015 The Music Hall, which operates at the Vilnius Book Fair and has become an integral part of the fair, will celebrate its tenth anniversary in the coming years. This is the largest music fair in Lithuania, which brings together the country’s famous performers, music creators and lovers. During the fair, the Music Hall, which is organized by the Lithuanian Association of Related Rights AGATA and has no analogues in the country, invites visitors to exclusive live concerts, meetings with representatives of the music industry, and discussions about the music industry.
6. Record numbers: 72 thousand. visitors during the four days of the Vilnius Book Fair
Considered a celebration of the reading community, the Vilnius Book Fair attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. Already the first fair, which took place in 2000, became the literary event of the year – it was visited by about 30 thousand people. Lithuanian residents. 2020 was declared a record year, when more than 72 thousand were counted at the Vilnius Book Fair. book lovers.
7. Hall of young readers
The Vilnius Book Fair has been bringing together book lovers of all age groups for twenty-five years, and the fair itself has become a space that has nurtured several generations of readers. There is a separate Hall of Young Readers at the fair for the youngest readers and teenagers. Library space, creative workshops and laboratories are located here, events are held on stage.
8. Hundreds of cultural events
According to the organizers of the fair, from an event whose original purpose was to sell books, the Vilnius Book Fair has become a huge event with a rich cultural program, which, compared to 2000, has grown tenfold: now more than 500 cultural events are offered to readers. Book presentations, discussions, meetings with writers, concerts, readings and other events are held at the fair, meeting the different needs and interests of readers.
“Litexpo” photo/Music Hall at Vilnius Book Fair 2020
9. A long-standing tradition of the fair – literature and music awards
Lithuanian publishing houses often combine their publishing plans for the year with the date of the Vilnius Book Fair. The fair became a kind of starting point for the literary community in the new year. It is here that the results of the past year are calculated, and the best books and their authors are awarded.
At the Vilnius Book Fair, writer Jurgas Ivanauskaitė and the Vilnius Club prizes are awarded, the Book Art Competition awards are held, the twelve most creative books compiled by the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore are reviewed and the winner of the book is announced, the Book of the Year elections, the translated book of the year and the International Children and Youth Literature Association IBBY best are presented award nominees for books for children and teenagers, as well as selected books from the “Book and Coffee” project that can become film scripts. Traditionally, the AGATA awards are held in the Music Hall, which honor the most popular Lithuanian artists and reward the authors of the most beautiful music album covers.
10. “Cuckoo goes to the fair”
The twenty-fifth Vilnius Book Fair will welcome readers with the slogan “Kukutis goes to the fair”. Kukutis, created by the poet Marcelijas Martinaitis, is considered one of the most popular and well-known characters in contemporary Lithuanian poetry, he embodies the diversity of people, the inner desire for freedom. Lolita Varanavičienė, head of the publishing house “Tyto Alba” and long-time organizer of the Vilnius Book Fair, commenting on the theme of the upcoming fair and reviewing the twenty-five years of the fair’s existence, assured that not only readers or writers go to the fair, but also book characters themselves.
The twenty-fifth Vilnius book fair “Kukutis goes to the fair” will be held in 2025. February 27 – March 2 Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Center LITEXPO. Ticket sales will begin 100 days before the fair, on November 19. The Vilnius Book Fair is organized by the Lithuanian Publishers Association, AGATA and LITEXPO.
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S the Vilnius Book Fair”: a cultural celebration
The Vilnius Book Fair has established itself as a vibrant cultural celebration that not only showcases the world of literature but also integrates various forms of art, including music, visual arts, and performances. Attendees can enjoy a diverse range of activities that enrich their understanding and appreciation of literature and culture, making it a unique experience in the Eastern European literary landscape.
Conclusion
As it continues to evolve, the Vilnius Book Fair not only strengthens its role as a marketplace for books but also as a crucial hub for cultural exchange and community engagement, celebrating the power of storytelling and the written word. Its growing attendance and the increasing number of cultural events reflect a growing passion for literature in Lithuania and beyond, ensuring that the fair remains a key highlight in the calendars of both authors and readers alike.
