Türkiye Showcases Literature and Culture at London Book Fair 2026
By Alpaslan Düven/London
Türkiye drew strong attention at the London Book Fair 2026, one of the world’s leading publishing events, held from 10–12 March at Olympia London in London. The country participated with a large national stand highlighting Turkish literature, culture and publishing.
The “Türkiye National Stand,” covering 216 square meters, was organized through a partnership between the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO). More than 1,000 titles were displayed, including prestigious publications from the ministry and works from Turkish publishing houses.
Turkish publishers attended the fair to promote the country’s literary heritage and to explore new opportunities for international cooperation in the publishing industry. To facilitate rights negotiations, the stand included 20 meeting tableswhere publishers and literary agents held discussions on translation and publishing agreements.
The Yunus Emre Institute also played a prominent role in representing Türkiye’s cultural and literary presence at the fair. The London Yunus Emre Institute presented several of its publications, including the bilingual magazine “.tr” and Turkish language teaching materials such as the Yedi İklim Turkish and Turkish for Children (ÇİT) sets. Through these publications, the institute introduced international publishing professionals to both Turkish literature and the teaching of the Turkish language.
“New ideas emerge here”
On the first day of the fair, Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı visited the national stand along with Türkiye’s Ambassador to London Osman Koray Ertaş, AK Party Kayseri MP Ayşe Böhürler, the Turkish Cypriot Representative in London Aysan Mullahasan Atılgan, ITO Vice Chairman Ahmet Özer, and Director of the London Yunus Emre Institute Mehmet Karakuş.
Speaking during the visit, Yazgı described the London Book Fair as one of the most significant global gatherings for the publishing industry and said Türkiye aims to increase the international visibility of Turkish literature.
“This is not just a place where books are displayed. New ideas emerge here, new partnerships are formed, and literature begins new journeys,” he said.
Yazgı noted that Türkiye’s strong participation this year was made possible through cooperation with the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. He also highlighted the role of the TEDA Translation Support Program, which has supported translations of 4,599 works into 66 languages across 99 countries, helping Turkish literature reach readers worldwide.
Promoting Türkiye’s intellectual and cultural life
Ambassador Ertaş said that every year Türkiye uses the London Book Fair as an opportunity to introduce the country’s intellectual and cultural life to international audiences. He added that the Türkiye National Stand was among the most visited areas of the fair.
ITO Vice Chairman Özer described the London Book Fair as one of the world’s largest events for publishing and bookselling, expressing satisfaction with Türkiye’s participation and its contribution to strengthening international cooperation in the sector.
Cultural visit in London
During his visit to the UK for the fair, Deputy Minister Yazgı also visited the London Yunus Emre Institute, where he toured the 8th Turkish Community Art Exhibition organized by the institute. Officials briefed him on ongoing cultural and artistic initiatives as well as the Turkish Art Platform, which supports Turkish artists and cultural activities abroad.
The London Book Fair, regarded as one of the most prestigious publishing events globally, brings together thousands of publishers, writers, and industry professionals each year. Türkiye’s strong presence at the 2026 edition highlighted the country’s ongoing efforts to expand the global reach of its literature and cultural heritage.