Armed with books: World Book Fair mixes military tribute with literary diplomacy

Free entry, a large-scale tribute to India’s Armed Forces and participation from over 35 countries marks the 53rd edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026, which returns to the capital from January 10 to 18 at Bharat Mandapam.

Claimed to be the world’s largest B2C book fair, the nine day event will bring together more than 1000 publishers and more than 600 events with over 1000 speakers across genres, languages and formats.

Organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), India under the Ministry of Education, with the India Trade Promotion as co-organiser, NDWBF 2026 will, for the first time in its history, offer free entry to all visitors.

Publishers, authors and cultural institutions from countries including Russia, Japan, Poland, France, Abu Dhabi, Iran, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Chile among others will also participate through book launches, multilingual poetry evenings, cultural showcases, children’s literature sessions and discussions.

The fair will be inaugurated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with dignitaries from Qatar and Spain. While Qatar is the Guest of Honour Country, Spain is the focus country for this edition.

Addressing a press conference at the Constitution Club of India on Thursday, NBT Chairman Professor Milind Sudhakar said the fair’s theme is inspired by a national milestone. “We have completed 75 years of Independence and to salute the Indian Armed Forces, our theme – Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75 – pays tribute to their contributions to nation building, defence and India’s unity.”

Speaking on the free entry he said that NBT is doing it in order to accommodate as many visitors as they can. “This shows NBT’s commitment to ensure that the habit of reading is accessible to all,” he added. NBT Director Yuvraj Malik explaining the decision to remove the entry fees said that the goal is to expand the scope of the NDWBF further and to invite Gen Z to connect with the world of books.

The central attraction of NDWBF 2026 is the Theme Pavilion titled Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75. Spread across 1,000 square metres, the pavilion has been designed as a 360-degree immersive experience and will feature over 500 books, curated exhibitions, posters, documentaries and installations. There will be sessions on major wars and military operations, from Budgaon 1947 to Operation Sindoor. Over 100 theme-based events featuring defence experts, authors and war veterans will be held during the fair. The fair will also feature special exhibitions celebrating 150 years of Vande Mataram and the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at 150.

The Fair is also hosting an impressive line-up of authors, speakers and public figures. (Express Photo)

The Children’s Pavilion, Kidz Express, will also host storytelling sessions theatre, quizzes, art and craft activities, book designing workshops, child-author interactions and dedicated creativity zones. Also the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya (ReP) will showcase over 6000 free books through digital kiosks and QR-based download, to promote inclusive access.

Evenings at the fair will include musical performances, poetry recitals and cultural showcases. Performers include Ricky Kej, Manganiyars, poets from the Rekhta Foundation, bands from Indian Army, Navy and Air Force among others.

The Fair is also hosting an impressive line-up of authors, speakers and public figures, including Piyush Mishra, Smriti Irani, Hema Malini, Kailash Satyarthi, Rahul Bhattacharya, Ricky Kej, Jaya Kishori, Durjoy Dutta, Luke Coutinho, Deep Haldar and Nitin Seth among others.

France will also feature prominently, with 2026 marked as the India–France Year of Innovation. Grégor Trumel, Director of the French Institute in India spoke about the dedicated French Pavilion and France’s long-standing association with NBT.