Physical and virtual: now the book fair is coming back

On May 6, 2020, the German government announced that trade fairs with the necessary protection concepts could be held again, but that the decision was the responsibility of the individual federal states in each case. The state of Hesse was one of the first to give the green light, allowing Messe Frankfurt's world-famous book fair to be held.

Detailed health and hygiene concept
The basis for staging the 72nd Frankfurt Book Fair from October 14-18 on the exhibition grounds is a detailed health and hygiene concept that implements the applicable protective ordinances of the State of Hesse and ensures the safety of guests, exhibitors and employees participating in the fair. The hygiene concept jointly developed by the Frankfurt Book Fair and Messe Frankfurt has convinced the Public Order Office and the Health Department of the City of Frankfurt.

Images: Karl Ove Knausgard

"More important than ever before"

Juergen Boos (pictured right), the director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, emphasizes: "This year, it is more important than ever to hold the Frankfurt Book Fair. With the presence on the fairground, book events on site and virtually, we create publicity for authors, for the industry, for our topics."

Digital twin

The Frankfurt Book Fair 2020 is a special edition due to corona. In order to inform book fans worldwide about the new publications of the book autumn 2020, the Frankfurt Book Fair will also take place virtually for one week. Among other things, a Bookfest Center is planned from which the Frankfurt Book Fair and its media partners will present new publications and initiate relevant discussions.

The Frankfurt Book Fair's digital supporting program now covers the requirements of both on-site and virtually connected guests from around the world with many offerings. The major German trade publishers such as Verlagsgruppe Random House, the German Bonnier publishing houses, Holtzbrinck Buchverlage, and Verlagsgruppe Bastei Lübbe initiated the idea of a new event concept as part of the Book Fair in exchange with the Frankfurt Book Fair.