Türkiye Highlights Literary Presence at London Book Fair
By Alpaslan Düven/London
London Book Fair 2026 brought together thousands of publishers, writers and industry professionals from around the world in London, where Türkiye attracted attention with a large national stand promoting its literature and cultural heritage.
Held from 10 to 12 March at Olympia London, the international publishing event featured a 216-square-meter Türkiye National Stand organized through cooperation between the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO).
The stand displayed more than 1,000 titles, including prestigious publications from the ministry as well as books from numerous Turkish publishing houses. Turkish publishers attending the fair aimed to introduce Turkish literature to international audiences and strengthen cooperation within the global publishing sector.
To facilitate professional meetings and rights negotiations, the Türkiye stand included 20 meeting tables, allowing publishers and literary agents to discuss translation and publishing agreements.
The Yunus Emre Institute also took part in the fair, representing Türkiye’s cultural and literary outreach. The London Yunus Emre Institute presented several of its publications, including the bilingual “.tr” magazine and Turkish-language teaching materials such as the Yedi İklim Turkish and Turkish for Children (ÇİT) learning sets. The institute highlighted its work in promoting Turkish language education and cultural diplomacy internationally.
Officials visit Türkiye’s stand
On the opening day, Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı visited the national stand along with Türkiye’s Ambassador to London Osman Koray Ertaş, AK Party Kayseri MP Ayşe Böhürler, Turkish Cypriot Representative in London Aysan Mullahasan Atılgan, ITO Vice Chairman Ahmet Özer and Director of the London Yunus Emre Institute Mehmet Karakuş.
Speaking during the visit, Yazgı said the London Book Fair remains one of the most significant meeting points for the global publishing industry.
“International book fairs are not only places where books are displayed. They are also spaces where new ideas emerge, partnerships are built and literature begins new journeys,” he said.
Yazgı noted that Türkiye’s strong participation this year was made possible through cooperation with the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. He also underlined the importance of the TEDA Translation Support Program, which has supported the translation of 4,599 Turkish works into 66 languages across 99 countries.
Promoting Türkiye’s intellectual life abroad
Ambassador Ertaş emphasized that the fair provides an opportunity to introduce Türkiye’s intellectual and cultural life to the international publishing community each year. He added that the Türkiye National Stand attracted considerable interest from visitors.
ITO Vice Chairman Özer described the London Book Fair as one of the largest global events in publishing and bookselling, expressing satisfaction with Türkiye’s presence at the event.
Cultural program in London
During his visit to the UK, Yazgı also visited the London Yunus Emre Institute, where he toured the 8th Turkish Community Art Exhibition organized by the institute. Officials provided information about the institute’s cultural activities and the Turkish Art Platform, which promotes Turkish art and artists abroad.
Recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious publishing events, the London Book Fair gathers thousands of publishing professionals annually. Türkiye’s participation in the 2026 edition highlighted the country’s efforts to expand the international reach of its literature and strengthen its presence in the global publishing market.
