Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Egypt’s Prime Minister opens record-breaking 57th Cairo International Book Fair
Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly officially opened the 57th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair today, representing President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The event, held under the patronage of the President, is taking place at the Egypt International Exhibitions Center in New Cairo’s Fifth Settlement from January 21 to February 3, 2026.
This year’s edition is the largest in the fair’s history, featuring a record 1,457 publishing houses from 83 countries and more than 6,600 exhibitors. The cultural program includes approximately 400 intellectual and cultural events, 100 book signing sessions, and 120 artistic performances, drawing wide participation from Egyptian, Arab, and international writers, intellectuals, and creators.
The fair’s slogan, “He who stops reading for an hour falls behind centuries”—a quote from Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz—underscores the event’s emphasis on the enduring value of reading.
Mahfouz, the renowned Egyptian novelist and Nobel Prize winner, has been honored as the Personality of the Fair this year. The program pays tribute to his legacy through intellectual seminars, film screenings, artistic activities, and a special exhibition titled “Naguib Mahfouz Through the Eyes of the World”, featuring 40 artworks by international caricaturists in collaboration with the Egyptian Caricature Association.
Renowned artist Mohy El-Din Ellabbad has been selected as the Personality of the Children’s Book Fair, recognizing his imaginative contributions to children’s literature and illustration. Activities include specialized seminars, an exhibition of his works, interactive events for children, reprints of his books, and a commemorative publication documenting his career.
Romania serves as the Guest of Honor for this edition, coinciding with preparations to celebrate the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Romania in 2026. The Romanian participation features a rich cultural program with 30 events, involving 60 guests—including 15 artists—and 10 Romanian publishing houses.
Prime Minister Madbouly praised the continuous development of the Cairo International Book Fair under President El-Sisi’s patronage, highlighting the increasing number of participating countries, exhibitors, and exhibition spaces. He emphasized that this progress reinforces the fair’s enlightening role on national, Arab, and regional agendas, affirming Egypt’s commitment to culture and thought as key elements of its soft power and civilizational influence.
Culture Minister Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno described the current edition as unprecedented in scale, diversity of events, and richness of cultural and intellectual content. He noted its special focus on Egypt’s ancient civilization, particularly following the historic opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which has drawn global attention.
During the opening, the Prime Minister toured various pavilions, accompanied by senior officials including the Minister of Culture, Romania’s Minister of Culture Andras Istvan Demeter, Romania’s Ambassador to Cairo Olivia Toderean, and other ministers, dignitaries, parliamentarians, ambassadors, and cultural figures.
The tour included stops at pavilions of the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Defense and Military Production (honoring the late Lieutenant General Abdel Rab El-Nabi Hafez), Ministry of Interior, Romania (Guest of Honor), Administrative Control Authority and Central Bank of Egypt (joint pavilion on anti-corruption and financial inclusion), Information and Decision Support Center, Financial Regulatory Authority, National Council for Women, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Halayeb and Shalateen pavilion, Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS—reporting Egypt’s population at approximately 108.6 million), Al-Azhar, Dar Al-Ifta, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, National Reading Pavilion, and Ministry of Social Solidarity.
New initiatives this year include the “Library for Every Home” project to bring books back into daily family life, the “Our People and Our Folks” camp showcasing Egypt’s intangible cultural heritage across governorates, expanded children’s activities, and a diverse artistic program.
The Prime Minister commended the outstanding organization, the expansive children’s pavilion (nearly 8,000 square meters), the heritage-focused camp, and the comprehensive tribute to Naguib Mahfouz, which reflects his exceptional place in Egyptian and Arab cultural consciousness.
The 57th Cairo International Book Fair continues to solidify its position as a leading platform for cultural dialogue, support for the publishing industry, dissemination of knowledge, and promotion of societal awareness.