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Guest of Honour
at the Gothenburg Book Fair
A unique opportunity for your country, culture, literature and authors.
EACH YEAR, THE TONE and theme for the Gothenburg Book Fair is set by our Guest of Honour – a specific country or language, region or culture.
The Guest of Honour benefits from a large-scale, eye-catching and centrally-located stand at the event which is guaranteed to receive many visitors. Our food outlets tailor their range to the Guest’s culinary highlights, readings and artists from their country are showcased at VIP receptions, and the opening of the Book Fair as a whole takes place at the Guest’s stand under the gaze of cultural stakeholders, authors, journalists, politicians and readers.
As our prominent Guest of Honour and the centre of attention, you will be afforded a unique opportunity to market your country, culture, literature and authors to more than 80,000 visitors and in excess of 700 journalists. The book fair generates over 7000 articles in the media, and highlighting our Guest of Honour is always at the top of our agenda.
PAST GUESTS OF HONOUR: Brazil, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, Poland, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Upcoming Guests of Honour at the Gothenburg Book Fair
Guest of Honour 2026: Québec
It is with immense pride that we extend a warm welcome to Québec as our esteemed Guest of Honour. We are filled with anticipation to discover Québec’s literary landscape and to introduce the voices of its talented writers to countless readers in Sweden and across the region.
Starting in 2024, delegations of Québec publishers to Sweden and the welcoming of Swedish publishers to Québec are planned; these exchanges already promise exciting business opportunities for Québec companies in Sweden and the Nordic countries.
– I am thrilled to see that the preparations for this honour are already underway in the publishing sector, both in Québec and in Sweden. This will be an opportunity to establish close cultural relations with Sweden, a nation with whom we have much in common, particularly our inherent relationship with nordicité, says Mathieu Lacombe, Minister of Culture and Communications.
Guest of Honour 2027: Flanders and the Netherlands
Guests of Honour for the 2027 edition of the Book Fair: Flanders and the Netherlands. With the Leipzig Book Fair having recently highlighted this vibrant region, the organisers of Gothenburg Book Fair are thrilled to introduce it to a Nordic audience.
Flanders and the Netherlands share a close linguistic and cultural bond, with the Dutch language serving as a cornerstone of their relationship. This shared heritage has fostered cultural exchange and collaboration, making them natural choices as Guests of Honour at literary events like the Gothenburg Book Fair.
– We are absolutely thrilled about this partnership, as it not only celebrates rich cultural and literary connections between Flanders and the Netherlands showcasing the significant contributions of both regions to the world of art, literature and democratic values but actually intertwine with the history of Gothenburg in remarkable ways, says Frida Edman, Book Fair Director, expressing enthusiasm for the profound intersection of heritage and collaboration.
Gothenburg originally had three official languages: Swedish, German and Dutch. The city was literally built by the Dutch, leaving a lasting imprint on its infrastructure and architecture. Their expertise in urban planning and engineering contributed to the construction of Gothenburg’s network of canals, bridges and harbour facilities.
Guest of Honour 2028: Lithuania
Lithuania will be the Guest of Honour at the 2028 edition of the Fair. This marks the second time Lithuania has taken centre stage at the Nordic Region’s largest cultural event, following its previous role as the theme country in 2005. The letter of intent was signed at the 40th edition of Gothenburg Book Fair.
During the preparation years leading up to 2028, Lithuania will focus on building connections with Swedish literary organizations and publishers, establishing programs for translators, and promoting new translations from Lithuanian to Swedish. The goal is to introduce Lithuanian culture and history to Sweden, fostering publishing cooperation and inspiring a new generation of readers. Since both Vilnius and Gothenburg are UNESCO Cities of Literature, this collaboration opens up even more opportunities for creative exchange and co-creation.
Daina Urbanavičienė, Vice Minister of Culture of Lithuania, stated:
– Lithuania is proud to become the Guest of Honour at the 2028 Gothenburg Book Fair. We welcome the long-term partnership, which is now taking clear shape through to 2028, with even more active participation of Lithuanian authors and publishers starting in 2025, when we mark the 20th anniversary of Lithuania’s first appearance in the spotlight at the Gothenburg Book Fair. Twenty years later, we are ready to elevate our cooperation with the Nordic publishing industry to new heights.
– The increasing Lithuanian presence from 2025, culminating in the grand celebration of 2028, will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to explore the country’s vibrant literary and cultural landscape, highlighting both contemporary voices and historical perspectives. This type of long-term engagement is what truly makes a difference for the Guest of Honour, creating an unforgettable experience not only for the readers but for everyone involved, says Frida Edman, Book Fair Director.
The program will be developed in collaboration with the Lithuanian Cultural Institute and the Lithuanian Publishers Association.
“Our participation as Guest of Honour at this year’s edition of the Gothenburg Book Fair has been an invaluable opportunity for Korean authors and publishers to meet the people of Sweden. I hope that the continued exchange between our publishers and countries will lay the foundations for us to work together to secure the future of books, literacy, peace and democracy.”
Korean Publishers Association