After more than thirty years of absence, the Paris Book Festival returns to the prestigious Grand Palais, newly renovated for the Olympic Games. From April 11th to 13th, more than 450 publishing houses and a thousand authors will take over the venue. With Morocco as guest of honor, this edition aims to be both literary and geopolitical, in a context where the book market is showing signs of fragility.
Increased attendance expected
Vincent Montagne, president of the National Publishing Union, organizer of the event, is optimistic: reservations, four times higher than in 2024, according to his comments reported by AFP, reflect increased public interest. The return to an iconic venue like the Grand Palais, which has not hosted the fair since 1993, could allow it to surpass the 100 visitors recorded in previous years at the temporary Grand Palais. This year, schoolchildren are expected starting Friday, an additional boost to attendance.
In a difficult economic context for the sector - a drop in bookstore traffic, the impact of shipping costs on online sales - the Festival serves as an essential showcase for French publishing.
Morocco in the spotlight and current debates
The program is also intended to be engaging. Several roundtables will address hot topics, such as the rise of extremes and global maritime issues, in connection with the Year of the Sea. The choice of Morocco as the guest country comes as Paris recently recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Fifty authors and thirty-eight Moroccan publishing houses will be present, including award-winning writers Tahar Ben Jelloun, Leïla Slimani, and Abdellah Taïa.
This international opening, which publishers consider crucial, is part of an increased export strategy, notably through the sale of rights for audiovisual adaptation, which has become a major economic issue in the sector.
