Sourav Majumder : Senior Correspondent
Kolkata | 03 February 2026
The 49th International Kolkata Book Fair 2026, one of the largest literary events in the world and the biggest in Asia, is coming to a close today, 03 February 2026, at 8:00 PM. The fair was held from 22 January to 03 February at the Boimela Prangan, Central Park, Salt Lake (Bidhan Nagar), near Karunamoyee, Kolkata–700091.
The prestigious event was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, Smt. Mamata Banerjee. This year, Argentina was featured as the Theme Country, adding an international cultural dimension to the fair and strengthening global literary exchange. Every year a country is invited to participate as the Focal Theme to showcase its literature and culture.
A Global Literary Festival
The International Kolkata Book Fair is globally recognized as:
- The largest book fair in Asia
- One of the biggest book fairs in the world
- A major platform for international publishers, authors, and readers
- Publishers, writers, poets, translators, and book lovers from India and abroad actively participated, making the fair a vibrant center of intellectual and cultural interaction.
Unprecedented Public Participation
The book fair remained open to the general public daily from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. According to organizers, the event witnessed record-breaking footfall, with millions of book-lovers from diverse cross section of the society, attending over the course of the fair. Literary discussions, book launches, author interactions, and cultural programs attracted massive audiences throughout the event.
Beyond Books: A Cultural Confluence
The fair went beyond book exhibitions, offering:
- International literary seminars
- Multilingual cultural performances
- Intellectual debates and discussions
- Cross-cultural exchanges
The Argentina Pavilion, although emerged as a major attraction, showcasing the country’s rich literary heritage, history, and culture yet, it was the ‘Little Magazine Pavilion’ that recorded the highest footfall during the bookfair.
A Celebration of Literature and Ideas
The successful conclusion of the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair once again reaffirmed its position as not just a marketplace for books, but a celebration of knowledge, ideas, and cultural unity.
While the curtains have fallen on this year’s edition, enthusiasm among readers, publishers, and writers for the next Kolkata Book Fair has already begun to build.
