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Istanbul is gearing up to welcome Arabic-language readers for the 10th edition of the International Istanbul Arabic Book Fair, scheduled from Aug. 9 to 17 at the Eurasia Hall in Yenibosna.
This year’s event will take place under the theme “Arabic Lives On.”
The fair, a nonprofit initiative, stands as the largest cultural event of its kind, bringing together tradition and modernity. It is also the largest international Arabic book fair held outside the Arab world.
The fair continues for nine days and aims to revive the Arabic language in Türkiye while strengthening ties between Arab and Turkish communities. It is held annually in Istanbul.
The fair is organized by the International Association of Arabic Book Publishers, in coordination with the Turkish Publishers Association and the Union of Turkish Publishers, and with support from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce.
It attracts the growing Arab community residing in the country, as well as many Turkish citizens interested in the Arabic language and its sciences.
The organizers invite universities and schools—both Arab and Turkish—with strong ties to Arabic studies.
The fair also serves as a vital cultural hub for Arab communities across Europe, leveraging Istanbul’s unique role as a bridge between East and West.
At a press conference held about a month ahead of the fair’s opening—hosted at the Fatih Municipality Cultural Center in Istanbul—organizers announced that this year’s edition will feature a rich program of cultural events, including intellectual lectures, literary and poetry evenings and book signing sessions, all aimed at engaging Arabic language enthusiasts, according to Anadol Agency (AA).
In an interview with AA, the fair’s general coordinator, Mehmet Agirakca, expressed his enthusiasm for organizing the 10th edition of the event, especially following the renewal of its visual identity.
Speaking about the “Language Corner,” Agirakca explained that it will be supervised by specialists in Turkish language instruction to foster interaction between recent learners of Turkish and foreign residents in Türkiye.
As for book prices, Agirakca noted that readers this year will be able to purchase books at affordable rates, thanks to an agreement among participating publishers to dedicate special sections and promotional offers for that purpose.
The official opening ceremony of the fair is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 9, at 11:00 a.m. at the venue, attended by prominent Arab and Turkish figures, as well as intellectuals, writers, journalists and representatives from publishing houses and participating institutions.
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