Erbil International Book Fair Opens Under "I Am Kurdistani" Theme With 400 Publishers From 18 Countries
Over one million titles in Arabic, Kurdish, English, French, German, Persian, Turkish, and more will be on display at Sami Abdulrahman Park from October 21 to 31, with more than 90 cultural and literary events and discounts exceeding 50 percent
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - The 18th Erbil International Book Fair will open on Wednesday under the theme "I Am Kurdistani," running until October 31 at Erbil International Fairground in Sami Abdulrahman Park, with more than 400 publishing houses from 18 countries participating and over one million titles on display across literature, thought, and knowledge in multiple languages.
The fair is organized by the Media Agency for Enlightenment and Arts, in cooperation with the Kurdistan Region Ministry of Culture and Youth and the Iraqi Writers and Authors Union, in coordination with the Iraqi Publishers and Writers Association, and under the supervision of President Masoud Barzani.
"I Am Kurdistani"
The theme "I Am Kurdistani" was chosen from a cultural perspective that honors Kurdish identity, viewing it as an open civilizational component rooted in history, language, memory, literature, clothing, music, and the arts, while affirming the values of coexistence, diversity, and openness toward others.
The theme represents pride in belonging as a cultural and human value and a bridge for dialogue and communication between cultures. It also aims to present a contemporary image of Kurdish culture that combines its historical characteristics with its interaction with its Iraqi, regional, and global surroundings.
The fair will bring this theme to life through an accompanying cultural and artistic campaign that includes literary and poetic texts, visual art, design, photography, cultural performances, and intellectual discussions, allowing visitors to become acquainted with the components of Kurdish identity.
Books and Languages
The more than one million titles on display will be presented in Arabic, Kurdish in its various dialects, English, French, German, Persian, Turkish, and several other languages, making the fair one of the most linguistically diverse book events in the wider region. Publishing and distribution houses participating in the fair will offer discounts of more than 50 percent on a wide range of books and publications, allowing readers to acquire new and varied titles at reduced prices.
Cultural Programme
The fair's cultural and artistic programme includes more than 90 events, among them intellectual and literary forums, dialogue sessions, meetings with writers and thinkers, alongside musical performances and cultural activities in several languages.
The Erbil International Book Fair is one of the most prominent cultural and public events in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, creating a broad space that brings together publishers, writers, intellectuals, and readers and respects cultural, linguistic, and intellectual diversity and openness. The fair will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and organizers invite the reading public and those interested in culture, literature, and the arts to attend and participate in its events.
