The Slovenian Book Fair debuted fifty-one years ago at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre and returned to the venue last year. Book publishing companies and visitors accepted the old/new venue with open arms. Last year alone, the organisers, the Chamber of Book Publishers and Booksellers at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia welcomed a record-breaking 45,000 visitors. This year, the Slovenian Book Fair took place from 21 to 26 November 2023.
The purpose of the Slovenian Book Fair is to promote Slovenian literature and encourage book reading. Most Slovenian publishing houses, alongside several foreign ones, present their best-sellers and latest issues, from novels to erudite, expert literature. Guests could also purchase books that piqued their interest. During the book fair, several awards were handed out to the best authors. The Slovenian President, Nataša Pirc Musar, opened the Slovenian Book Fair with an introductory speech and summarised her thoughts on the event’s importance: “By reading, we enrich our mind and all around us.”
A safe space for reading and reflection
The Kupola and Kocka Halls, where the fair took place this year, provide more than 2,000 square metres of exhibition space. In addition, the halls include five stages of varying sizes, where over 260 events took place over six days. The tidy stands of smaller and larger publishing houses invited bookworms to read books in peace and consider purchasing them. Even though the event recorded a record number of attendees, the space did not feel crowded.
