New Delhi: The familiar January ritual returned to the capital on Friday as the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 opened at Bharat Mandapam, drawing readers, publishers and culture enthusiasts back to one of the city’s most anticipated events. The country’s largest book fair began its latest edition with a renewed focus on national history, global literary exchange and public engagement.
Organised by the National Book Trust in collaboration with the India Trade Promotion Organisation, the nine-day fair is expected to attract over 20 lakh visitors and host more than 1,000 publishers from India and abroad.

This year’s edition carries the theme “Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75”, placing the spotlight on the legacy, courage and strategic thought of India’s armed forces since Independence.
The centrepiece of the fair is a large theme pavilion that offers an immersive walk through India’s military journey. Life-sized replicas of INS Vikrant, the Arjun tank and the LCA Tejas stand alongside curated exhibits on key operations and Param Vir Chakra awardees, combining archival material, visuals and books to tell stories of sacrifice and service.

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the event, which features Qatar as the Guest of Honour and Spain as the Focus Country, underlining the fair’s international character. The programme includes hundreds of author sessions, panel discussions, book launches and cultural performances, with dedicated spaces for children, young adults and digital publishing.
Adding a ceremonial note, bands from the Army, Navy and Air Force are performing across the venue, while publishers reported strong early interest from visitors. With packed aisles and conversations flowing across genres and languages, the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 once again positions the capital as a meeting point for ideas, stories and shared history.

BI Bureau