The newsletter of Frankfurter Buchmesse Issue 11 / 2026 |
Dear reader,
Czechia is the Guest of Honour at the 78th Frankfurter Buchmesse. Since it's a landlocked country, right in the heart of Europe, the motto of its Guest of Honour presentation is all the more surprising: "Czechia: A Country on the Coast". More than 75 Czech authors and illustrators will be travelling to Frankfurt, bringing with them fresh perspectives and a glimpse into the vast ocean of literature. You will find more information about the numerous events taking place at the fair and around the city of Frankfurt in this newsletter.
Enjoy reading, and ahoj!
Your newsletter team
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Top, from left: Alice Horáčková, Marie Iljašenko, Radka Denemarková; bottom: Marek Torčík, Kateřina Tučková, Jaroslav Rudiš © Connor Jandourek Photostudio |
Czech literature sets sail for Frankfurt
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The official Guest of Honour delegation will bring 75 authors and illustrators to Frankfurt, representing a wide range of themes. These include history and social power dynamics, as well as multilingualism, identity and fantastical worlds. Among those travelling to Frankfurt are the poet and translator Marie Iljašenko, the multi-award-winning author Jáchym Topol, the writer and literary translator Radka Denemarková, the award-winning poet and novelist Marek Torčík, the journalist and novelist Alice Horáčková, and the comic artist Kateřina Čupová.
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Beach pebbles and a lighthouse: the Guest of Honor Pavilion in the Forum, Level 1 © Studio JinJan |
A country on the Coast: The Guest of Honour Pavilion |
What does the Czech Republic look like as a ‘A Country on the Coast’? The Guest of Honour Pavilion at Frankfurter Buchmesse (Forum, Level 1) translates this theme into architecture. Curved, inflatable objects divide the space and create a landscape for reading, discovering and lingering. Czech literature and culture will be the centre of attention on two stages. There will also be an exhibition of Czech illustrations, live paintings with a robot, a poetic lighthouse, a café and the international exhibition ‘Books on Czechia’. The pavilion was designed by the Prague-based studio JinJan and is based on a resource-efficient, reusable concept. |
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Czechia's collective stand 2025 © FBM M. Jacquemin |
Professional programme and exhibitors in Hall 3.1 |
How are AI and new forms of presentation changing the book market? What working conditions do literary translators need – and how does Czech literature find its way out into the world? In Czechia's professional programme, experts from the Czech Republic and Europe will discuss current issues facing the book sector and other creative industries. More than 40 Czech publishers are exhibiting at FBM26, many of them at the joint stand in Hall 3.1 C65. |
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Literature, performance, talks |
| We have put together a selection of highlights for you here. You can find all other events in the events calendar and on the Book Fair app. |
Telling Her Story: Women, Trains and the Weight of History |
7.10.2026, 11.5 am-12.45 pm
GoH Pavilion, Harbour Stage With: Radka Denemarková, Yang Shuang-zi, Moderation: Susanne Biedenkopf-Kürten |
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The Theme of Exile as an Evergreen of Czech Literature. Why Can’t It Do Without It? |
8.10.2026, 10.00-11.00 am
GoH Pavilion, Harbour Stage
With: Martina Mecco, Jan Rubeš, Zofia Bałdyga, Moderation: Petr Christov |
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Dora Kaprálová: Die Mariborhypnose |
8.10.2026, 12.45-1.45 pm
GoH Pavilion, Harbour Stage
With: Dora Kaprálová, Pavel Mandys, Anne Bergman-Tahon, moderator: Nikola Richter
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AI and the Future of European Literature |
8.10.2026, 1-30-2.15 pm
GoH Pavilion, Shore Stage
With: Sebastià Portell and others, moderator: Anna Luňáková |
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HAVEL 90 – I Hid It Somewhere |
9.10.2026, 2.45-3-30 pm
GoH Pavilion, Harbour Stage With: Jáchym Topol, moderator: Tilman Spreckelsen |
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Stories of Czech and Slovak Roma – from WWII to the Present |
10.10.2026, 10.00-10.45 am
GoH Pavilion, Harbour Stage
With: Kateřina Tučková, Patrik Banga, Moderation: David Vaughan, PhDr. Karolína Ryvolová |
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Women Shaping Czech and Central European Publishing |
10.10.2026, 10.00-11.00 Uhr
PublisHer stand (Hall 3.1 F15)
With: to be announced |
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International Drawing Battle: Czechia against Germany |
10.10.2026, 4.00-5.00 pm
Global Stage (Foyer Hall 5.1) With: Marita Kelbl, Kateřina Čupová, Eliška Soffer Podzimek, Magdalena Rutová, Timo Grubing, Pascal Nöldner, Raimund Frey |
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A Quarter Century of Czech Comics |
10.10.2026, 4.30-5.15 pm
GoH Pavilion, Harbour Stage
With: Jaromír Švejdík (Jaromir 99), Lucie Lomová, Moderation: Kateřina Čopjaková
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Where on earth is the Czech seaside? |
11.10.2026, 1.45-2.45 pm
GoH Pavilion, Harbour Stage With: Ondřej Macl, Anna Luňáková |
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© Museum für Kommunikation, Klingspor Museum, Schirn Frankfurt |
Czech Culture in Frankfurt and beyond |
A view of the Atacama Desert in Chile © Stock photo |
Chile, Guest of Honour 2027 |
Chile will be Guest of Honour at the Frankfurter Buchmesse in 2027 and is already gearing up for the event. Authors and translators will be speaking on the LatAm Stage (Hall 3.1 F70) about poetry, identity, heritage and new forms of storytelling. The Chilean Guest of Honour year will officially begin with the handover of the ‘GuestScroll’ on the final day of the fair. |
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Call for applications: New Romanian titles in English |
In the run-up to Romania’s appearance as Guest of Honour in 2028, the Romanian Cultural Institute is supporting publishers who wish to translate and publish works by Romanian authors into German or English. Applications can be submitted until 15 November 2026. Further information will be available at the Guest of Honour breakfast on 9 October 2026 from 9.00 am to 10.00 am at the ‘Leseinsel’ stand of the independent publishers (Hall 3.0 C69). |
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© 2026 Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH |
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