Frankfurt Book Fair attendance details

The 78th Frankfurt Book Fair ended on October 11 with 236,000 visitors from 137 countries, slightly fewer than the 238,000 recorded in 2025. The number of professionals attending increased slightly to 119,000 from 118,000, while attendance by the general public dropped to 117,000 from 120,000, according to the fair's organizers.

Exhibitor numbers and layout changes

The number of exhibitors at the fair decreased from 4,350 to 4,000, a reduction of 8%. A new hall layout, placing business-to-business areas on upper floors and public areas on the ground floor, received praise from attendees, although some noted the need to move quickly between meetings due to the tight spacing of events.

France's presence and non-fiction highlights

France's participation was marked by several notable titles, according to Pauline Buisson from the scouting agency V&P. While the fair was not calmer than in previous years, it was described as less concentrated, reflecting a broader trend. Non-fiction saw significant activity, with "Twenty Months at Auschwitz" by Pelagia Lewinska generating interest across several countries.

Fiction and international sales

Fiction titles also saw strong international interest. "The Economic Power of Ideas" by Philippe Aghion and Joel Mokyr, a book about the influence of ideas on economic growth, was preempted in the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and South Korea, with offers from Japan, Spain, and Italy. Other fiction titles, such as "The Memory of Water and Flames" and "Love is Like a Cinnamon Roll," received offers in multiple countries.

French authors and social issue literature

Rights director Judith Rosenzweig from Gallimard highlighted continued interest in French authors, including Patrick Modiano, whose book "The Elephant" was sold in a dozen languages. She also noted a growing interest in literature that addresses pressing social issues, such as "The Infinite Loneliness of Professors" and "I."

Independent publishing at Frankfurt

Independent publishers also made their mark at the fair. Calmann-Lévy presented several upcoming titles to multiple publishers, while Robert Laffont acquired a book from Macmillan. According to Gaëlle Bohé of Fontaine O Livres, the five independent publishing houses supported by her organization successfully secured meetings, leads, and deals, proving their relevance at the major international event.