No cancellation fees if Frankfurt exhibitors withdraw before May

Frankfurt Book Fair has announced it will not charge any cancellation fees for exhibitors and agents if they withdraw before the end of May.

It is part of a package of improved cancellation conditions for this year’s fair, which will run from 19th–23rd October. Organisers said the new conditions are intended "to make it easier for exhibitors and agents to be present and network in the international publishing industry in October in Frankfurt".

The fair will not charge any cancellation fees if exhibitors withdraw their registration by 31st May. If a cancellation is made between 1st–30th June, 20% of the net stand rental will be charged or 20% of the net rental for stand packages. From 1st July, 100% of the net stand rental or stand package price will be charged as a cancellation fee. 

Those who register for a stand in the exhibition halls or a table in the Literary Agents & Scouts Centre (LitAg) by 31st January will still receive the early bird discount. 

Last year the German government provided funding as part of its Neustart Kultur programme to ensure there was no financial risk to publishers booking a stand at the fair. It promised that if the fair was cancelled due to the pandemic, or if the exhibitors themselves were unable to travel due to the restrictions at the time, they would have been fully refunded.