Budapest International Book Festival

30th International Book Festival Budapest – new venue, new opportunities. From October 2–5, 2025, the jubilee 30th International Book Festival Budapest will take place, this year hosted at the Bálna Honvédelmi Központ, near Fővám Square.

A wide range of free programs awaits literature enthusiasts: author-reader meetups, book launches, signings, readings, exhibitions, and panel discussions. The guest of honor country will be Romania, and the guest of honor author is Janne Teller, the Danish novelist of Austrian-German descent, best known for her international bestseller Nothing. In addition, numerous international authors will participate, with a particular emphasis on French literature.

Main programs 

October 2 (Thursday)

16:00 Opening ceremony (at the Budapest Music Center concert hall)

12:00 Opening of Romania’s guest of honor program

13:30 Traian Pop: Traian Hamuszerda book launch

18:30 Inauguration of the Romanian stand with András István Demeter

10:00–morning: discussion with Erzsie Kertész and Nóra Majoros on the momentum of reading and family themes

From 15:30 book signings (in various exhibitor halls)

October 3 (Friday)

10:00 “Increase Your Revenue with Regular Readers” – professional lecture

11:00 Librarians’ Club – award ceremony and roundtable discussion

15:00 The role of library collections in education

16:00 Animus 35 – classics and modern literature

17:00 Balázs Karafiáth: The Secret of the Conscious Chief

18:00 “Artificial Intelligence – A New Era in Economy and Society?” – debate evening

Programs in the Hadik Exhibition Hall include:
• Reception of Romanian literature in Hungary
• The state and significance of youth and children’s literature
• Alexandru Vakulovski book launch & Whose House Is This?
• Doina Gecse: Borgovan Haza
• Zoltán Rostás: Talking Documents I–III
• Life and literature across borders
• Poetry readings and book launches

October 4 (Saturday) & October 5 (Sunday)

Highlight: Presentation of the book We Shall Not Part – October 4 at 16:00 in the Pálffy Hall. One of the festival’s star events, featuring the Hungarian release of a new South Korean novel, presented by Jelenkor Publishing.

On both days: continuous programs at exhibitor stands – book signings, launches, and meetings with authors at various publishing pavilions.

On Saturday, special focus will be given to emerging international literary voices, with musical accompaniment also expected.

Date: October 2–5, 2025
Venue: Bálna Honvédelmi Központ (Fővám tér 11–12, Budapest)
Admission: Free entry to all programs

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