The 2026 Helsinki Book Fair opens on Thursday, October 22, bringing together authors, publishers, translators and readers for four days of literary discussions, book presentations and cultural events at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. Running until Sunday, October 25, this year’s fair centres on language, with a programme exploring multilingualism, translation, literary expression and the role of language in shaping society.
The event, now in its 26th year, will feature more than 1,000 discussions, interviews and book presentations across 17 stages, with more than 2,000 speakers expected to participate. Around 50 international authors will join Finnish writers and other guests, while approximately 350 publishers, bookshops, antiquarian bookshops and other industry participants will take part.
The theme, “Kieli, språk, language…”, reflects the fair’s focus on the many ways language connects people and cultures. It also brings greater attention to translators, whose work allows books and ideas to reach readers beyond their original language.
“At the Helsinki Book Fair, we will reflect on the development and significance of language and show how it can be shaped in the hands of a writer,” says Programme Director Ville Blåfield. He describes language as both a shared convention and a force that writers can challenge, reshape and renew.
The international programme includes French authors Édouard Louis and Olivier Norek, American writer Patrick Radden Keefe and Swedish author Bea Uusma. Their appearances form part of a wider programme that brings literature into conversation with current affairs, politics, identity and the social questions shaping contemporary life.
Finnish fiction remains a central part of the event. This year, the organisers are introducing the Roihuvuori Stage in a new upper-floor hall, creating more than 60 additional programme slots dedicated to Finnish fiction. The new hall will also accommodate the Arabia Stage and exhibition stands, expanding the space available for literary discussions and meetings between writers and readers.
The programme will feature conversations across several languages. Alongside Finnish, Swedish and English, visitors will be able to attend discussions in Estonian and, for the first time, Somali. Topics include power and responsibility, queer experiences, war and peace, relations between major powers, and humanity’s relationship with other species.
The fair will also bring together writers for joint appearances, including Pajtim Statovci and Pirkko Saisio, Satu Rämö and Viveca Sten, and Matti Rönkä and Kari Hotakainen. Other returning attractions include the feel-good books programme on Sunday, a comics marathon on Saturday, Poetry Sunday, Crime Fiction Saturday, Science Square and events organised by KirjaKallio, book-focused social media communities and writers’ associations.
The programme also includes discussions on the work of Anne Carson, the Nobel Prize-winning poet and writer, as well as appearances by former Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and former Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Juergen Boos, who led the Frankfurt Book Fair for 21 years, will also visit Helsinki and participate in a panel discussion on Friday. His appearance highlights the Helsinki fair’s growing role as a platform for public debate as well as a celebration of books.
For Blafield, this year’s event marks the end of his tenure as programme director. He is completing his fifth year in the role, which typically lasts between two and five years, and a successor will take over next year.
Blafield says each year has brought different experiences and that visitor numbers have risen throughout his tenure. Last year’s event set an attendance record, exceeding 100,000 visitors. He describes the position as a dream job and credits the wider book industry for the support and expertise that have helped him develop in the role. He also points to the books he has discovered as one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
The fair opens against a relatively encouraging backdrop for Finland’s book trade, particularly in fiction. Figures released last week by the Finnish Publishers Association and the Finnish Booksellers Association showed growth in sales during the first three quarters of 2026.
Publishers’ total sales to retailers increased across both printed books and electronic publications. Sales of printed fiction by Finnish authors and translated fiction each rose by more than 10%. Digital formats, including audiobooks, now account for 57% of fiction sales, reflecting the growing importance of electronic reading and listening alongside traditional books.
Bookshops have also reported stronger sales compared with the same period last year. Fiction sales increased by 9% in euro terms, while non-fiction sales grew by just over 1%. Sales of children’s and young adult books rose by almost 3%.
These figures will form part of a discussion at the fair’s press briefing on Thursday morning, October 22. Science and Culture Minister Mari-Leena Talvitie is scheduled to deliver opening remarks at 9.15 a.m., before the fair opens to visitors. The briefing will examine the state of Finland’s book industry, and the Finnish Fair Foundation’s EUR 15,000 Book Industry Advancement Award will be presented.
Sakari Laiho, director of the Finnish Publishers Association, and Laura Karlsson, chief executive of the Finnish Booksellers Association, will discuss the industry’s outlook, including concerns about declining literacy and possible ways to address the problem. The programme will also feature an interview with author Mariia Niskavaara, whose novel “Ester, teurastaja” has been sold to more than 30 countries. Translations of the book are due to begin appearing internationally this winter.
Beyond its literary programme, the fair will include a Record Fair and dedicated areas for arts and crafts, hobbies, collecting and art. The Antiquarian Book Fair will run alongside the main event, organised in collaboration with the Finnish Antiquarian Booksellers Association. The Wine & Food event will also take place at the venue during the same period.
Visitors will encounter some practical changes this year, including four entrances instead of the previous two. Construction of a new Solar space at the southern entrance means people arriving by public transport can also use the western or eastern entrances. The eastern entrance offers access to the fair area without stairs, while visitors arriving by car can use the northern entrance.
The organisers have also introduced an AI-powered search tool on the fair’s website to help visitors explore the programme and build personalised schedules. As sessions and appearances may change, visitors are advised to check the latest information at the official Helsinki Book Fair programme page.
Organised by Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre in cooperation with the Finnish Publishers Association and the Finnish Booksellers Association, the Helsinki Book Fair promotes reading, literature and book sales across Finland. Its stated values include freedom of expression, equality and respect for human dignity. This year’s emphasis on language places those principles alongside questions of translation, cultural exchange and access to literature in a society where people read, write and communicate in many different languages.
