Though there are still quite a few days to go, previous Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF) visitors and exhibitors will confirm that planning for Frankfurt can never start early enough. As one of the most important publishing events, FBF attracts more than 7,300 exhibitors from 100 countries each year, over 14,000 scouts and agents and around 180,000 trade visitors alone. The world’s largest book fair is the place to preview new books, promote one’s publishing products and trade rights and licenses.
Frankfurt Book Fair 2010 Program
Publishers, writers, booksellers, printers, electronic publisher and book lovers all congregate in Frankfurt in October when more than 2,900 book and publishing events are just waiting to be explored. Some of the yearly Frankfurt Book Fair highlights include:
- author meets with world-renowned writers,
- panel discussions on audio books, film & media, education, publishing trends and more,
- Tools of Change for Publishing (TOC),
- the Gourmet Gallery with celebrity chefs
- readings by famous children’s book authors,
- signing events with comic book artists,
- many seminars and conferences and
- prestigious book prize awards.
Argentina is Guest of Honor at FBF 2010
“Culture in Motion” is the motto with which Argentina will introduce its diverse culture, its myriad of literary voices and the potential of its publishing industry at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair. Apart from concerts and performances, readings by Argentinean authors are planned. Panel discussions with Argentine and other international publishing professionals will look at the following topics:
- the great Argentinean literary tradition,
- contemporary fiction,
- new Argentinean poetry,
- exile and women writers,
- Argentine society in literature
Frankfurt Book Fair Opening Hours
Traditionally, FBF is a professional fair during the week and a public event on the weekend. It is on Saturday and Sunday that celebrities will make their rounds and the big author events, book launches and parties take place. Here are the FBF opening hours at a glance:
- Wednesday, October 06 through Friday, October 08: 9 am - 6:30 pm; trade visitors only
- Saturday, October 09: 9 am - 6:30 pm; trade visitors and general public
- Sunday, October 10: 9 am – 5:30 pm; trade visitors and general public
Frankfurt Book Fair Ticket Prices
Advance ticket sales for trade visitors will start on July 1, 2010. The general public can obtain advance tickets from September 1, 2010 onwards. Good news is that ticket prices have not increased but are the same as last year. Here is an overview of FBF 2010 ticket prices:
- Trade visitors, 1-day ticket: €28 (advance sale)
- Trade visitors, 1-day ticket: €36 (on site)
- Trade visitors, 5-day ticket: €56 (advance sale)
- Trade visitors, 5-day ticket: €72 (on site)
- Students, 1-day ticket during trade days: €20
- General public, 1-day ticket: €14
- General public, 2-day weekend ticket: €20
- Group ticket (20 persons or more), 1-day ticket: €12 per person
- Children, 1-day ticket: €7
Frankfurt Book Fair 2010 Floorplan
Planning for Frankfurt should also include getting around within the exhibition center as the area is vast, comprising of various halls. When meeting someone or going for an event, visitors should check the hall plan beforehand and account for enough time to travel between halls. Here’s a quick overview of where to find what – books, products and services. Closer to the show, visitors should also check the updated floorplan:
- Forum F.0: Film & TV Rights Center
- Forum F.1: Guest of Honor Argentina
- Halls 3.0, 3.1 and 4.1: fiction and non-fiction
- Hall 3.0: children’s books and comic books
- Hall 3.1: religion, tourism, Antiquarian Book Fair
- Hall 4.0: publishers & booksellers center, discount books, non-books
- Hall 4.1: art books and book illustrations
- Hall 4.2: STM, education & academic books and journals
- Halls 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 6.1 and 8.0: international publishers
- Hall 6.2: literary agents and press center
A Brief History – Frankfurt Book Fair
Books have a long tradition in Frankfurt, starting right in the 15th century with Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of movable type not far from Frankfurt. Already by the 17th century, the city had established itself as Europe’s book fair capital. Leipzig acquired this title when a changing political climate made a move just a few hundred kilometers eastwards necessary. After WWII, only a handful of booksellers and publishers met in Frankfurt in 1949 again to restart what has now become the world’s largest publishing event.
Useful for visitors is an overview of important deadlines; first-time exhibitors should check out the Newcomer Package and FBF's many green initiatives. The many exciting events aimed at young and old book lovers and anyone in between will once again guarantee packed halls on the weekend. And those who can hardly wait may read the Fair’s blog in preparation.
Don’t miss reading about the upcoming World eBook Fair and Hong Kong Book Fair!
Simone Preuss - Simone is a freelance writer, editor and translator who decided to go solo after a successful career in publishing. That was more than ...
Join the Conversation