Frankfurt Book Fair attracted 93,000 trade visitors

More than 93,000 trade visitors attended Frankfurt Book Fair this year, up from 36,000 in 2021, though total figures were still half those recorded in pre-pandemic 2019. 

Organisers said the figures “reaffirmed” the fair’s position as “the most important international meeting point for the book and media industry”. Over 4,000 exhibitors from 95 countries were present in the halls, in the Literary Agents & Scouts Centre (LitAg) and in the new workstations. The LitAg hosted 300 agents at more than 450 workplaces and was overbooked. 

Private visitor numbers were also up to 87,000 this year, from 37,500 last year. However total figures were half the number recorded in the last pre-pandemic year of 2019, when the organisers recorded 302,267 total visitors.  

Juergen Boos, director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, said: “In the midst of an oppressive global political situation, this fair sent important signals: face-to-face meetings serve as an antidote to polarisation in times of heated debate. This shows how important Frankfurter Buchmesse is as a meeting place for the international publishing community: valuable relationships are maintained and new ones are made here in just a few days. We look back at five vibrant and successful fair days and are pleased about the positive turnout of Frankfurter Buchmesse 2022.” 

Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, chairwoman of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, said the fair “was a major celebration of people’s enthusiasm for books and of democracy”. She added: “In crowded aisles and during lively debates, one could clearly feel the power of books, the joy of reunions and the desire to engage constructively with the issues of the day. Pressing topical issues were on the agenda – from the situation in Ukraine and Iran to topics such as diversity and social harmony. Frankfurter Buchmesse thus provided important impetus in terms of the current challenges facing the industry, society and the global political order. That allowed it to highlight its significance as the most important marketplace for books and a venue for promoting diversity and peaceful exchange.”