Iran brings literary catalog to Istanbul, over 250 titles on display
Iran Book and Literature House is showcasing more than 250 titles at the 42nd Istanbul International Book Fair, which opened on December 13, at the TÜYAP Exhibition Centre in Istanbul and runs through December 21, according to the institute.
The presence underscores Tehran’s bid to scale up rights trading and cultural exports as regional publishing hubs jostle for shelf space and deal flow, with Istanbul positioning itself as Turkey’s dominant marketplace for international exchange despite a proliferation of smaller fairs elsewhere.
Iran’s stand in the international section features classical and contemporary literature, poetry, Iranology, children and young adult books, art and illustration, culture and civilization, alongside a curated set of translations. The program also puts forward Iran’s book-publishing platform, a literary agency and illustration representation, aiming to “open doors” to co-publishing, rights swaps and bilateral partnerships.
Running from December 13 to 16, the fair’s international segment is designed as a four-day rights corridor, bringing together publishers and cultural institutions from multiple markets for targeted meetings, catalogue pitching and market briefings.
Organizers have framed it as a pivot for professional exchange at a time when supply chains in publishing are re-routing and regional demand indicators remain resilient.
Iran Book and Literature House said its agenda includes presenting Iran’s publishing capacities, promoting the national grant scheme, spotlighting Iranian illustration, and holding talks with Turkish publishers and cultural managers to advance rights transfers and joint projects. Partial quotes such as “rights exchange” and “capacity-building” featured prominently in meeting schedules circulated at the venue.
The 2025 edition introduces, for the first time, an illustration wall, a dedicated showcase that has drawn sustained footfall from illustrators and editors scouting visual talent for children’s and art lists. The addition shows a broader shift towards visual storytelling and cross-format licensing within the industry.
The fair hosts publishers and institutions from 14 countries and is backed by a dense calendar of cultural programming, including panels, workshops and book launches, reinforcing its status as Turkey’s flagship publishing event. Organizers report more than 1,015 participants and about 510,000 visitors this year, figures that cement Istanbul’s lead over regional fairs held in Bursa, the Black Sea region, Izmir and Ankara.
With roughly 13,914 square meters of exhibition space, the Istanbul International Book Fair remains the country’s largest platform for cultural interaction and publishing commerce.