Book Fairs/Literary Festivals

Europe’s vast range of literary events includes some of the oldest and most venerated in the world. Use the search menu below to find events across the continent.

Selected festivals

Founded in 2019, this festival brings international literature to Budapest in a new context, with a clear focus on the literature of the Visegrad countries: Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. The broad context includes non-fiction and children’s literature, text and illustration, visual art and performances, which come together in a polyphony of language.

The Márgo Literary Festival is a series of cultural events held regularly in Budapest since 2011, focusing on literature, mainly contemporary Hungarian literature. The purpose of this October event is to popularize literature and create new ways to communicate literature. The Margó Literary Festival and Book Fair is supported by MVM and the National Cultural Fund.

The Festive Book Week, founded in 1929 and typically happening in June, features traditional programming as well as the latest book novelties, cultural programs, autograph sessions, talks, and performances. It is centered in Budapest but more cities are becoming involved. It also has its own price, the Beautiful Hungarian Book Prize.

This annual festival will turn 30 years old in 2024. As one of the most important spaces for Hungarian Literature, it has its own literary award, the Great Price of Budapest. The festival consists of literature evenings, bookshows, conferences, and debates, as well as a program for children. It takes place in spring, although the exact dates varies from year to year.

This annual literary event takes place in April in the City of Debrecen. A celebration of literature and the written word that began in 1971, the festival typically features a wide range of literary activities, including readings, book releases, discussions, workshops, and cultural performances. It serves as a platform for established and emerging writers, poets, and literary figures to share their work with the public.