The International Kolkata Book Fair, easily the biggest event in the city after Durga Puja, will be held from January 22 to February 3, with Argentina being the ‘theme country’ this year, and Bangladesh to be absent because of current issues in its relationship with India.
Moreover, this is the first time that Metro Rail and the book fair will connect, even though both have been integral to Kolkata’s ecosystem for decades. This is possible because two Metro stations have come up very near the current venue of the book fair, which is Central Park at Salt Lake City.
“For the first time, the venue of the book fair will be directly connected by Metro from Howrah to Karunamoyee and Central Park via Esplanade. A huge number of booklovers from all over Kolkata, Howrah and other districts can avail of the Metro to reach the book fair venue. On our request, the Metro Rail authorities have decided to increase the frequency of the service. The last train will be available around 10 p.m. on all book fair days. A special booth will also be there at the fair venue for visitors to book tickets by UPI,” Tridib Chatterjee of the Publishers & Booksellers Guild, which organises the annual event, told a news conference.
The fair, turning 49 this year, will be inaugurated on the afternoon of January 22 by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the presence of Argentine scholar Gustavo Canzobre, and that country’s Ambassador to India, Mariano Agustin Caucino. The event will also include the Kolkata Literature Festival, to be held on January 24 and 25.
“Bangladesh publishers are not coming this year because of the sensitive situation between India and Bangladesh. What’s heartening is that for the first time the Metro is entirely connected with the book fair, which will facilitate the commute of a huge number of people from Kolkata and the suburbs and the districts,” Mr. Chatterjee later told The Hindu.
Bangladesh was the theme country in 2022. Stalls set up by publishers from that country usually remain crowded throughout the fair. This year, like 2025, will see over 1,000 participants at the event, with as many as 20 countries across the globe marking their presence. There will be nine entry-exit gates in all, two of them based on Argentine architecture.
“(During the fair), the senior citizen’s day, Chiro Tarun, will be celebrated on January 30, and children’s day on February 1. The birth centenaries of Salil Chowdhury and Bhupen Hazarika will also be celebrated through a cultural programme and panel discussion on January 26 and 27, respectively. There will be an International Kolkata Book Fair 2026 Android app to locate any stall in the fair using Google location; it’s been created by Sister Nivedita University. A digital ground map with the participants’ list will also be available just by scanning a QR code at all the entry points of the book fair,” Mr. Chatterjee said at a news briefing.
Curated by Aisha Patel
