Set to light up the summer calendar, the Hong Kong Book Fair returns from 15 to 21 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, drawing publishers, authors and readers into a vibrant celebration of literature and culture. Held alongside the Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and the World of Snacks food fair, the three events are expected to feature more than 770 exhibitors from nearly 30 countries and regions, offering residents and visitors a one-stop destination for culture, sports and leisure experiences.
Under the tagline Cultural Legacy – Joyful Journeys, more than 600 events will take place at the fairground and across the city, inviting the public to explore the world through reading and travel, while experiencing cultural heritage, distinctive local traditions and the creative vitality of destinations around the globe.
One of the fair’s highlights will be the World in Words, A Voyage of the Heart exhibition featuring six interactive installations that recommend books and travel itineraries based on visitors’ preferences. Over 200 books and travel-related items, provided by consulates in Hong Kong, will also be on display.
A series of seminars and talks will bring together renowned writers and speakers from around the world to exchange ideas across eight themes, ranging from literature and culture to lifestyle, business and personal growth. Award-winning Chinese-language authors will appear alongside international voices from the UK and Europe, while writers from Indonesia and Singapore will take part in the debut ASEAN Literary Festival.
As for Hong Kong speakers, local industry leaders, cultural figures and experts will also share insights on topics ranging from economic trends to space exploration, enriching the fair’s dynamic programme.
Following its popular debut last year, the Cultural and Creative Zone returns, featuring the Fujian Pavilion, the Hangzhou Pavilion and Hong Kong exhibitor Tsi Ku Chai showcasing intangible cultural heritage crafts, creative products and intellectual property-related merchandise. This year’s Chinese Mainland Publishers pavilion will bring together 49 publishing organisations, representing approximately 20,000 publications with Yunnan highlighted as the fair’s featured province.
Beyond an extensive variety of books on sale, the fair also provides a platform for industry exchange, highlighting emerging trends in publishing and creative content. For industry professionals, the International Publishing Forum and IP Roundtable will analyse the latest publishing market trends and developments and explore new business opportunities in IP registration and trading.
Running concurrently with the Book Fair, the Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo will showcase the latest sports trends, including an on-site obstacle course and several physical fitness challenges. At My Mini Zoo, visitors can interact with animals up close while learning about nature and ecology.
This year’s World of Snacks will feature more than 1,300 snacks from nearly 30 countries and regions, including handmade peanut cookies from local baker Amore Hand Bakes, soybean snacks invented by a group of local entrepreneurs and high-protein crisps offered by Good2Buy.
A single ticket grants admission to all three events with a variety of discounts and promotional offers available. To mark the HKTDC’s 60th anniversary, 60 free passes will be up for grabs through a promotion on HKTDC’s Facebook.