South Korea is the event’s guest nation of honor this year, showcasing its vibrant literary culture.
The opening ceremony took place at the Museum of Modern Art in the Polish capital and was attended by Poland’s upper-house Speaker Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Culture Minister Hanna Wróblewska, diplomats and key figures from the publishing industry.
The fair is being held in and around the landmark Palace of Culture and Science venue in the city center.
“This year’s theme, ‘A world connected by words,’ reflects how literature breaks down borders and language barriers,” said Kidawa-Błońska during the ceremony.
She highlighted the importance of books in "understanding history, current realities, and imagining a better future, especially in challenging times."
Wróblewska thanked authors, publishers and booksellers for their contributions to Polish culture.
During the event, several distinguished individuals from the book design community received state awards for their outstanding work.
Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz
Among the awards presented were the Ikar 2025 prize to Father Adam Boniecki and the “Friend of the Book” award to Magdalena Duszyńska-Walczak from the Polish Chamber of Books.
The South Korean pavilion, located in the Marble Hall of the Palace of Culture and Science, features authors, experts, publishers and government officials promoting Korean literature worldwide.
The fair’s program includes a variety of literary festivals and industry events such as the Warsaw Comic Festival, Crime Warsaw Festival, Ryszard Kapuściński Reportage Day, and the "Fathers and Kids" Intergenerational Children’s Literature Festival.
Returning this year is Literacka InfluSpace, a series of panel discussions with leading figures in the book industry.
The 2025 Warsaw International Book Fair features 620 exhibitors from 20 countries (Photo:PAP/Rafał Guz)
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Source: IAR/facebook.com/TargiKsiazkiwWarszawie