The Beirut Arab International Book Fair concluded its 10-day run on 18 October 2026, having opened on 9 October. Organized by the Arab Cultural Club, the event attracted attendees despite the regional crisis. Adnan Hammoud, director of the Arab Cultural Club, noted the event served as "a breathing space for frustrated people" during the period. He further stated, "It was a sign that Lebanese have been longing to attend cultural activities and buying new books." The fair provided a venue for publishers and readers to engage throughout the scheduled duration in Beirut. Participation levels remained a focus for organizers as they managed the logistics of the exhibition amidst local conditions.
Cultural Resilience Amidst Instability
Approximately 160 publishing houses participated in the 2026 fair to showcase their collections to visitors. Organizers scheduled 91 panel discussions to engage attendees throughout the event. Among the exhibitors, Risalat public relations manager Walaa Znait observed significant engagement from the public. "I was surprised by the strong interest in buying them, especially among young people," said Walaa Znait. The high number of participating houses allowed for a diverse range of materials to be presented during the exhibition. These sessions and the presence of numerous publishers provided a platform for interaction between authors and readers in Beirut. The structure of the program supported the overall turnout of the 10-day event, maintaining a focus on cultural exchange despite the regional conditions.
Economic Pressures on Readers
Financial constraints remained a significant concern for both organizers and attendees during the exhibition. Nasser Fliti of Riad El-Rayyes Books noted the difficulty for consumers, stating, "With a minimum wage of $300, people can barely afford to live." Lebanon's minimum wage is currently $300, a figure that influenced purchasing power throughout the event.
Regional participation also reflected shifting geopolitical and economic conditions. Adnan Hammoud, director of the Arab Cultural Club, observed a decline in institutional representation, remarking, "Each Gulf country used to send around 16 official institutions to the fair. This year, however, only a few publishing houses from these countries participated individually." Syria saw a particularly sharp reduction in its presence, with participation dropping from 30 publishing houses in previous years to six in 2026.
Carla Barakat Abboud of the Dar An-Nahar sales and communications team discussed the context of specific literary contributions, noting, "Of course, he published it at a time when the Assad family's Syrian regime was no longer present in the country." Despite these economic and regional challenges, the fair maintained a consistent public draw. An estimated 100,000 visitors attended the book fair over the course of its 10-day run.
Organizers sought to broaden the scope of international cooperation during the event. The French Institute of Lebanon participated in the fair for the first time, adding a new dimension to the exhibition’s offerings. This institutional entry occurred alongside the efforts of local publishers to reach audiences despite the broader regional crisis. The combination of high attendance figures and new international partnerships marked the 2026 edition of the fair, even as individual exhibitors noted the strain of the local economic environment. The participation of the French Institute of Lebanon represented a change in the event's composition compared to previous years, while the attendance of 100,000 people indicated sustained public interest in the cultural programming provided by the Arab Cultural Club.
