36th Hong Kong Book Fair Draws Nearly 1 Million Visits, Reinforcing Cultural and Economic Impact

The 36th Hong Kong Book Fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully on July 21, drawing 990,000 visits over seven days. The event, held concurrently with the Sports and Leisure Expo and World of Snacks, featured more than 770 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions. Under the theme “Reading the World: Cultural Legacy | Joyful Journeys,” the fair enabled book lovers to explore global histories and cultures, while over 600 events took place both at the fairground and across the city.

Jenny Koo, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, noted that despite heavy rain early on, visitor enthusiasm remained high, particularly over the weekend. She highlighted the strong response to cultural seminars, including a full-house session with renowned author Liu Zhenyun, and the successful inaugural ASEAN Literary Festival, which underscored Hong Kong’s role as an East-meets-West cultural exchange hub. The fair also coincided with HKTDC’s 60th anniversary, featuring a community art creation workshop led by HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma and local artist Jane Lee.

A survey of over 860 visitors found average spending of HK$923, with 98.2% of respondents achieving their objectives. The primary purpose for attending was purchasing newly released books (45%), followed by enjoying discounts (43%) and experiencing the cultural atmosphere (23%). Fiction remained the top reading preference (46%), ahead of literature (22%) and comics (21%). Electronic payment adoption rose, with 85% of respondents using digital methods.

Visitors like Ms. Lam, who spent about HK$20,000, and Mr. Chan, who spent over HK$30,000, demonstrated the fair’s appeal for bulk purchases. Exhibitors reported strong sales; Cosmos Books launched 40 new titles, while Bangzo Books HK sold nearly 90% of inventory by day five. First-time exhibitor Emirates Publishers Association secured rights deals for 25 titles, highlighting the fair’s role in facilitating cross-regional business collaboration.

The fair’s Eight Seminar Series and ASEAN Literary Festival fostered cultural exchange. Malaysian author Daryl Yeap engaged students with stories of overseas Chinese communities, while Liu Zhenyun’s seminar drew over 1,400 attendees, including visitors from mainland China. The “Cultural and Creative Spaces” zone featured first-time exhibitor Create Hangzhou, which promoted traditional Chinese culture through miniature movable-type printing.

Industry leaders explored AI’s impact on publishing at the International Publishing Forum and IP Roundtable, sponsored by the HKSAR government. Over 250 professionals attended discussions on copyright challenges and opportunities in the AI era, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a regional intellectual property trading centre.

The “Cultural July • Joyful Summer Reading” initiative continues through July, extending the fair’s momentum with cultural tours and public education programmes. The HKTDC plans further events in the second half of 2026, including the Food Expo, Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, and Belt and Road Summit, to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international business hub.