Boos Details Frankfurt Book Fair 2026 Hall Changes
Director Juergen Boos details last-minute hall reconfigurations and addresses French publishers' concerns over agent access ahead of his final fair.
The 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair opens in one month, with director Juergen Boos confirming that a last-minute hall unavailability has been resolved. Boos told Livres Hebdo that his team had to reposition around 500 exhibitors after learning Hall 6 did not meet standards, calling the process 'very stressful' but now settled.
The unavailability of Hall 6 forced the relocation of the literary agents' center, known as the LitAg. It will now be housed in Hall 1, a more glass-fronted space open to the city. Boos personally tested the new route, estimating it adds about three minutes of walking time for visitors. New signage is being installed to guide attendees. The broader objective of these spatial changes is to manage the excessive weekend crowds seen over the past three years. Boos stated that the new zoning for international exhibitors, including the French collective at stand 3.1 G 125, is even better than the previous layout.
The 'French Challenge' on Rights Access
Some publishing rights directors, particularly from France, have expressed dissatisfaction with the current schedule. They feel disadvantaged that Tuesday is reserved for literary agents, while they pay more for their exhibition stands than agents do for a table at the LitAg. Boos noted he heard this feedback specifically from Antoine Gallimard and Nicolas Roche, director of France Livre. He referred to it as the 'french challenge,' as similar complaints have only come from that country.
The rights market continues to grow beyond print into audiovisual, streaming, and audio across the current three-day window from Wednesday to Friday. Beyond the existing Publishers Rights Centre, Boos said the fair has explored two options: opening Tuesday to publishers as well, or conversely closing that dedicated agent access. Each poses its own problems. No changes will be made for the 2026 edition, but Boos expressed confidence a solution will be found for next year.
Programming Highlights and Thematic Focus
Beyond logistics, several major topics will dominate the 2026 fair. In the BtoB sector, artificial intelligence and its link to copyright protection will be central debates. The rapid growth of audiobooks is another key subject. A program called Frankfurt Calling, run with partners including the United Nations and several PEN clubs, will address current cultural and political issues like censorship and self-censorship, which Boos believes are on the rise.
Manga and youth comics also hold significant space this year, alongside two new stages dedicated to Asia and Latin America. The guest of honour is Central Europe, represented by the Czech Republic. Notable personalities expected include Peace Prize of the German Book Trade laureate Philippe Sands, French author Gisèle Pelicot, and American author Colson Whitehead. A specific program on Friday, October 9, will focus on audiovisual adaptations, featuring international film producers and streaming platforms present throughout the fair.
A Final Fair Under Boos's Leadership
Juergen Boos, who became director in 2005, approaches this as his final fair. He expressed optimism, citing the vitality of markets in India, Brazil, Mexico, and Central Asia where culture, education, and literature are booming. He cautioned that publishing contains many ecosystems, and not all are growing equally. Reflecting on lessons from the pandemic, he noted the fair's investment in a virtual salon was later abandoned. 'People need to meet in this business, it's a matter of trust,' he said. Boos voiced full confidence in his successor, Joachim Kaufmann, whom he is assisting during the transition. He plans to continue watching the sector's evolution, particularly in France, where he observes an increasingly political market, a trend he intends to monitor closely for Germany as well.
