Beijing International Book Fair postponed at last minute

The Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), which was set to run from 25–29 August, has been postponed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 in the city, reports the Bookseller.

‘Due to strict pandemic prevention and control measures adopted currently, the organising committee of the Beijing International Book Fair announces that the 28th BIBF … will be postponed to a later date,’ the organisers said. ‘The organising committee will closely follow the progress of pandemic prevention and control in Beijing and release the latest information regarding the 28th BIBF as soon as possible.’

As previously reported by Books+Publishing, this year’s event is planned as a hybrid fair, with physical presence limited to Chinese and China-based publishers. International publishers could book a stand manned by an assistant on the ground, who will present titles to interested Chinese publishers and forward their contacts after the fair.

UK publishers set to exhibit at the fair told the Bookseller that the last-minute cancellation was ‘very difficult to deal with’, but ‘stressed the uncertainty around live events at the moment’.

Category: International news