Book launches, events, and exciting activities kick-start Bucharest's Bookfest, promising an engaging reading experience for all attendees.
The 18th edition of the International Book Fair Bookfest commenced on Wednesday, May 28, at Romexpo in Bucharest, with a rich cultural and literary program extending until Sunday, June 1. This year, Portugal serves as the guest of honor, offering a multifaceted exploration of Portuguese literature and culture.
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore nearly 160 booths, where publishers have curated special packages offering discounts and exclusive meetings with cultural personalities from both Romania and Portugal. As the guest country, Portugal has prepared a daily slate of events, book launches, debates, and workshops for children.
On Thursday, attendees are encouraged to attend a thought-provoking debate on the Arena stage titled "Reading as Public Space: How Books Keep a Democratic Society Alive." Notable speakers include Henrique Mota (former president of the Portuguese Publishers Association and the Federation of European Publishers), literary agent Simona Kessler, editor Lidia Bodea, and professor Mircea Vasilescu, moderated by former Minister of Culture Corina Şuteu.
Another roundtable, "Cultural Journalism: Art or a Form of Social Coagulation?", will take place at Portugal's booth, featuring Ana Margarida de Carvalho and Ioana Stăncescu as guests, moderated by Iolanda Frandeş-Vasile.
Notably, the final days of Bookfest will honor major Portuguese literary figures such as Antonio Lobo Antunes. On Saturday, Portuguese writer David Machado will speak about his novel Average Happiness Index.
promotes engagement for young readers with events under the "Bookfest Junior" umbrella, offering creative workshops, theater activities, book launches, photo sessions, and autograph opportunities for the youngest visitors.
Throughout the book fair, publishers and organizers have designed various reader participation opportunities, including the "Reader’s Passport – A literary adventure to Portugal!" contest at Portugal’s stand. The fair is open to the public free of charge for both the book fair and its scheduled events.
Inspired by José Saramago's work The Year of Ricardo Reis, this year's Bookfest aims to foster dialogue between the Romanian and Portuguese cultural spheres, offering a comprehensive exploration of Portuguese literary and cultural heritage. With a wide array of events, debates, author interactions, and specialized programming for all ages, Bookfest 2025 promises to be an enriching and engaging literary adventure for all attendees.
- Visitors can immerse themselves in a cultural exploration of home-and-garden, lifestyle, entertainment, and literature during the various events at the Bookfest, including workshops, debates, and book launches.
- At the Bookfest, attendees can find a wealth of books that cater to a variety of interests, including home-and-garden, lifestyle, and entertainment, alongside Portuguese literature and culture offerings.
