| International Kolkata Book Fair কলকাতা আন্তর্জাতিক বই মেলা | |
|---|---|
 Logo of International Kolkata Book Fair | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Multi-genre |
| Venue | Central Park Mela Ground, Salt Lake, Kolkata |
| Location(s) | Kolkata |
| Country | India |
| Inaugurated | 1976 |
| Attendance | over 2.5 million every year[citation needed] |
| Organized by | Publishers & Booksellers Guild |
| Website | www |
The International Kolkata Book Fair (formerly Calcutta Book Fair) is a winter fair in Kolkata. It is a unique book fair in the sense of not being a trade fair—the book fair is primarily for the general public rather than whole-sale distributors. It is the world's largest non-trade book fair, Asia's largest book fair and the most attended book fair.[1] It is the world's third-largest annual conglomeration of books after the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair. Many Kolkatans consider the book fair an inherent part of Kolkata, and instances of people visiting the fair every day during its duration are not uncommon. The fair offers a typical fairground experience with a book flavour—with picnickers, singer-songwriters, and candy floss vendors. With a total footfall of over 2 million people, it is world's largest book fair by attendance.[2]
The success of the Kolkata Book Fair has resulted in many book fairs in smaller cities in West Bengal like Siliguri, and was inspired, in turn, by the first World Book Fair at New Delhi in 1972.
The popularity of the Kolkata Book Fair was seminal in India being nominated the Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2006, according to the Frankfurt Book Fair organizers.[citation needed] The book fair has been celebrated in theatre, literature, songs and limericks in Kolkata.
The 44th International Kolkata Book Fair took place between 29 January and 9 February 2020 at the Central Park, Bidhannagar.
The 45th edition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
The 45th International Kolkata Book Fair took place between 28 February 2022 and 13 march at the Central Park, Bidhannagar. The theme was Bangladesh.
- ^ "To find the world in books, here's a list of book fairs in the world". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "3 lakh visitors throng book fair on Sunday - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "International Kolkata Book Fair Postponed Till Covid-19 Situation Improves: Guild Official". News18. 27 December 2020. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.