Liber 2024 calls on the publishing industry to boost its business at Fira de Barcelona

As in every even-numbered year, Fira de Barcelona will be in charge of organising Liber, the International Book Fair promoted by the Federation of Publishers’ Guilds of Spain (FGEE). From 1 to 3 October, Hall 2 of the Gran Via exhibition centre will host the 42nd edition of the Spanish book industry’s most important professional event, which is expected to bring together 350 publishers and companies from a dozen countries.

Internationally recognised as one of the main trade fairs for the export, exhibition and promotion of Spanish-language publishing, Liber 2024 will bring together publishers from all subject areas who will present their bibliographic collections and new products, and companies with products and services related to the production, marketing and distribution of books, as well as digital content (ebooks, audiobooks, podcasts), and professional associations.

This year the trade fair -which will be held from Tuesday to Thursday-, will promote the MicroLiber area for young publishers and start-ups in technological solutions for the world of books. It will also continue to devote special attention to self-publishing, the sale of rights and intellectual property. It will also include a wide-ranging programme of professional conferences to debate and reflect on current issues in the sector linked to the book value chain. Thus, topics related to sustainability, the use of artificial intelligence, the promotion of reading and issues of interest to bookshops, distributors, libraries, authors and translators, among other groups, will be addressed.

With this commercial offer, exchange of knowledge and professional networking, Liber expects to attract more than 7,000 professionals to Barcelona, 40% of them international, in order to boost sales of Spanish publishing production both at home and abroad. Of particular importance is Liber’s impact on the sector’s foreign trade, especially in the Latin American and US markets, as it is estimated that a third of the Spanish publishing industry’s annual exports are generated at the fair.

In this regard, it is worth highlighting the relevance and effectiveness of the Buyers Programme, in collaboration with the Spanish Economic and Commercial Offices abroad and ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones , as well as the Priority Interest Prescribers Programme, together with Acción Cultural Española (AC/E). Through them, the FGEE invites to the fair a selection of professionals with the capacity to prescribe, decide and/or purchase Spanish books from more than 60 countries.

Coincidence with Graphispag
Another new feature of this edition is that Liber will coincide with the leading trade fair in Spain for the graphics and visual communication industry, Graphispag. Printed books represent 95% of the publishing business and professionals from the publishing world will have the opportunity to see first-hand the latest graphic technology, inks, papers and other printing, binding and finishing materials to create books and publications that stand out. At the same time, they will be able to learn about the advantages of short print runs, printing on demand, the possibilities of personalisation and eco-design.

Liber 2024 is organised by Fira de Barcelona and promoted by the Spanish Federation of Publishers’ Guilds (FGEE). It is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Sport of Spain, ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones, CEDRO, Generalitat de Catalunya, Ajuntament de Barcelona and with the collaboration of Acción Cultural Española AC/E, Gremi d’Editors de Catalunya and l’Associació d’Editors en Llengua Catalana.

Barcelona, 13 March 2024

Photos (Liber 2022 at Barcelona) here

Maria Dolores Herranz / Gloria Dilluvio
Press Office Fira de Barcelona – Liber 2024
Tel. 93 233 25 41 – 21 72
mdherranz@firabarcelona.com
gdilluvio@firabarcelona.com

Gerardo Miguel
Press Officer FGEE
Tel: 915765250
prensa@fge.es