Tehran Virtual Book fair draws strong reader demand in digital push
Orders at the seventh Tehran Virtual Book Fair rose sharply midway through the nationwide cultural event, with more than 130,000 purchases registered and nearly 325,000 books sold by Thursday afternoon, deputy director of the Tehran International Book Fair Ebrahim Heydari said.
Heydari, who also heads Iran Book and Literature House, said the online platform had recorded 130,245 orders since the fair opened on May 16, showing sustained public demand for books and growing engagement with Iran’s expanding digital publishing market, IRNA reported.
According to figures released on May 21, publishers had offered 473,942 printed and digital titles through the fair’s online portal, while 86,642 distinct book titles had been sold by 2 p.m. local time on Thursday.
Total sales reached 324,931 copies, including 290,570 printed books and 34,361 digital editions, showing the resilience of Iran’s publishing sector despite mounting global shifts towards electronic consumption.
Heydari said the figures highlighted continued enthusiasm among readers and broad participation by publishers in one of the country’s largest cultural initiatives.
Held under the slogan “Let’s Read for Iran”, the virtual fair runs until May 23 through the official platform of the Tehran International Book Fair, extending nationwide access to publishers, readers and literary institutions beyond the capital’s conventional exhibition halls.