The 36th Hong Kong Book Fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully on July 21, 2026, attracting 990,000 visits over seven days. The fair, held concurrently with the 9th Sports and Leisure Expo and 6th World of Snacks, brought together more than 770 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions. Under the theme “Reading the World: Cultural Legacy | Joyful Journeys,” the event enabled book lovers to explore global histories, cultures, and human stories, while the accompanying fairs offered sports, leisure activities, and international snacks, all accessible with a single ticket.
Despite heavy rain in the early days, visitor enthusiasm remained high, with Saturday and Sunday seeing particularly strong turnout. Jenny Koo, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, noted that the Book Fair continues to be a beloved cultural event, citing full-house seminars, including one by renowned author Liu Zhenyun, and the successful inaugural ASEAN Literary Festival, which highlighted Hong Kong’s role as an East-meets-west cultural exchange hub. Coinciding with HKTDC’s 60th anniversary, a celebratory activity featured HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma participating in a community art workshop with over 100 students; the resulting artwork will be displayed at a Wan Chai tram stop from 2 to 29 October.
A visitor survey of over 860 respondents revealed average spending of HK$923, with over 90% of exhibitors accepting electronic payments and 85% of visitors using such methods, an increase from last year. The primary purpose for attending was purchasing newly released books (45%), followed by discounted prices (43%) and experiencing the cultural atmosphere (23%). Notably, 98.2% of visitors achieved their intended objectives. Fiction topped reading preferences (46%), followed by literature (22%), comics (21%), children’s and young adult titles (18%), and supplementary exercises (16%).
Visitor spending varied widely, with some attendees spending tens of thousands of dollars. Ms Lam, a second-time visitor, spent around HK$20,000, mainly on children’s books and educational toys, while Mr Chan spent over HK$30,000 on a children’s learning set and other books. Exhibitors reported strong sales: Cosmos Books launched around 40 new titles, with popular works by renowned authors and Hong Kong-themed publications; Bangzo Books HK sold nearly 90% of inventory by the fifth day; and Classroom Publications noted cautious consumer sentiment but boosted giveaways to drive sales. International exhibitors also thrived: the Emirates Publishers Association, a first-time exhibitor from the UAE, secured rights agreements with around 15 publishers and sold rights to 25 titles, with plans to translate traditional Chinese books into Arabic.
The Book Fair’s Eight Seminar Series fostered cultural exchange, with the ASEAN Literary Festival drawing significant interest. Daryl Yeap, a Malaysian author, noted that the audience showed great curiosity about stories of overseas Chinese communities. Liu Zhenyun’s seminar reached full capacity twice, attracting over 1,400 attendees. The “Cultural and Creative Spaces” also returned, with first-time exhibitor Create Hangzhou promoting traditional Chinese culture through miniature movable-type printing, and Tsi Ku Chai reporting steady growth in sales of Dunhuang-inspired products and blind-box items.
Industry leaders explored AI’s impact on publishing at the International Publishing Forum and IP Roundtable, sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of the HKSAR Government. The forum, themed “Reading for All in the Age of AI: Reshaping and Co-evolution,” drew over 250 industry professionals, while the IP Roundtable, themed “Copyright in Transition,” examined changes in IP regulations and cross-border collaboration opportunities. These discussions reinforced Hong Kong’s role as a regional intellectual property trading centre.
The HKTDC’s “Cultural July • Joyful Summer Reading” continues through July, featuring cultural tours and public education programmes across Hong Kong. The Sports and Leisure Expo attracted over 3,600 visitors to its “Multi-sport Playground,” while the World of Snacks offered international delicacies. Upcoming HKTDC events include the Food Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo, Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, and Belt and Road Summit, among others, aimed at fostering international trade cooperation and reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a global business hub.
