The Paris Book Festival opens from April 17 to 19 at the Grand Palais with very high attendance expected, tickets being almost sold out even before the weekend. Behind this enthusiasm, however, the 2026 edition begins in a complicated climate, marked by several controversies and the absence of influential figures in the publishing world.
Hachette's absence and crisis at Grasset
The first point of contention concerns the withdrawal of some Hachette group publishing houses. Fayard, JC Lattès, Stock, and Grasset are not participating this year, leaving a significant gap in the book fair's aisles. This decision is partly explained by the parallel organization of an event celebrating the group's 200th anniversary, but it also comes in a tense atmosphere.
Olivier Nora's departure from the editorship of Grasset has indeed provoked a strong reaction in the literary world. More than a hundred authors have announced their resignation from the publishing house in protest against this dismissal, denouncing in a statement an "ideological war aimed at imposing authoritarianism everywhere in culture and the media." This stance has heightened the tension surrounding the festival.
Amazon withdraws, a significant financial shortfall
Another significant event was the withdrawal of Amazon, a major financial partner until then. The e-commerce giant left the event following criticism from the French Booksellers Association, which denounced it as a "major risk" to the sector. Amazon explained that it made this decision to avoid fueling an "absurd controversy."
This departure had concrete consequences. According to Pierre-Yves Bérenguer, the festival director quoted by Livres Hebdo, the organization lost approximately €800,000 on a total budget of €5 million. Despite this, the festival claims to have compensated thanks to new partners and strong public demand.
To maintain its appeal, the event is putting comics in the spotlight this year, following the cancellation of the Angoulême International Comics Festival. The theme of travel structures the entire program, with over 1,200 authors and nearly 300 events planned. Despite the current tensions, the festival remains a major event for readers.
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