Exceptional satisfaction among publishers and visitors

The 47th International Book Fair Interliber came to a successful close at Zagreb Fair.

From 11 to 16 November, four pavilions of Zagreb Fair (5, 6, 7 and 7a) were a must-visit destination for all lovers of books and reading, thus confirming Interliber as the largest cultural event in Croatia and the region. The Fair gathered more than 360 exhibitors from 15 countries and featured over 200 hours of professional and accompanying programme.

Both publishers and visitors expressed exceptional satisfaction, emphasizing that the printed book, despite the digital age, has remained an enduring value and a source of knowledge. Interliber was attended by more than 120,000 visitors.

Support from the state and the City: Plenković and Tomašević at the official opening

The Fair was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, who accentuated: "This fair strengthens Croatian publishing, promotes books, authors, reading, science and most importantly, knowledge. So, it is no surprise that the number of exhibitors increases year after year, which shows the appeal of Zagreb and Interliber."

The support was also given by the Mayor of the City of Zagreb, Tomislav Tomašević, who underlined the fundamental value of the book: "Interliber is the largest literary event in Croatia, a place where the book is celebrated, where readers of all generations meet and where we regularly witness the nurturing of love for books... If you take a book and open it, it will never fail."

Zagreb Fair Director, Renata Suša, captured Interliber’s mission in the following words: "Countless worlds are hidden in a book. Books are not just letters on paper, they are a force that brings people together."

The programme’s global stars

This year, Interliber attracted exceptional interest owing to the appearances of internationally renowned names:

Paul Lynch, an Irish writer and 2023 Booker Prize winner, presented his award-winning novel Prophet Song, confirming Interliber’s role as a platform for showcasing the most important international literary trends.

Jeff Kinney, the globally popular author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, gathered thousands of young readers on Wednesday, confirming that interest in children’s literature is exceptionally strong. His meeting with fans in the gallery of the pavilion 5 was one of the most attended events.

Tuomas Kyro, a Finnish author, whose works have been translated into numerous languages, presented his award-winning novel The Alliance, which was recently released in Croatian.

A special programme for children

This year’s Interliber attracted significant public interest with its new children’s programme "Let Me Tell You a Story - A Fairy Tale in Our Hands", located in the gallery of the pavilion 5.

The programme was designed to actively nurture new generations of readers and it achieved outstanding success.

Every day from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the gallery was filled with children and their parents, enjoying interactive workshops, creative storytelling sessions and educational games.

This programme has been recognized as a key contribution to Interliber's mission of promoting literacy and fostering a lifelong love of books from an early age.

A rich accompanying programme and promotions of renowned personalities

This year’s Interliber offered an exceptionally rich and diverse accompanying programme that went beyond the traditional book promotions, taking place across four stages.

Promotions of books by prominent Croatian authors and public figures attracted significant attention. The authors included Jurica Pavičić, Zoran Predin, Marina Vujčić, Toni Milun and Martina Mlinarević. In the crowded pavilion, the traditionally popular guest appearance of Korado Korlević, one of Croatia’s leading astronomers, focused on the challenges of the future.

There was also strong interest in the Premium programme of the Publishers and Booksellers Association at the Croatian Chamber of Economy, which featured a book presentation and discussion with Boris Jokić, as well as a poetry collection by Gibonni.

The programme included a panel discussion on the Ministry of Culture and Media’s new initiative - the Cultural Card. A series of educational workshops also took place, such as the Small Glagolitic Script Workshop, How to Reduce Your Digital Footprint and an innovative lecture on mathematical tricks for faster thinking in the AI era.

The High Five quiz show for primary and secondary school students and the National Team Quiz Championship were held as well.

Interliber 2025 successfully fulfilled its mission of promoting the written word, leaving behind thousands of happy visitors and satisfied publishers.

The fair confirmed that the book, despite all technological changes, remains timeless and indispensable, and that Zagreb continues to be the undisputed regional center of literature.