Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reading press clippings about Imam Moussa Sadr during the inauguration of the Arab Book Fair at the Seaside Arena in Beirut. (Credit: Nabil Ismail)
After a forced interruption in 2024 due to the war, the Beirut Arab Book Fair is making a strong comeback for its 66th edition, running from May 15 to 25 at the Seaside Arena on the capital’s waterfront.
Organized by the Arab Cultural Club, this year’s event is being held without the official participation of the Lebanese Publishers Syndicate, which is reportedly considering holding its own fair in the fall, as it did in 2023. Efforts by Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh to bridge the divide have so far failed.
The fair officially opened on Thursday under the patronage of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who attended alongside Salameh, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, Arab Cultural Club President Salwa Siniora Baassiri and former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. The fair is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a wide program of events and activities.
This edition is framed as a space for reflection and revival amid a renewed cultural climate. With 134 Lebanese publishing houses and eight Arab publishers participating, the event signals a renewed commitment to literature.
While some major publishers specializing in French and English books — often present at the competing 2023 fair — are absent this year, a range of foreign-language titles will still be available from several exhibitors.
In a first for the fair, the Arab World Institute (AWI) in Paris is taking part through a dedicated stand showcasing its publications in Arabic and French on topics related to the Arab world. The institute’s director-general, Chawki Abdel Amir, attended the opening ceremony and will sign two of his poetry collections on Friday, May 16, at 8 p.m. at the Al-Nahda Editions stand, following a poetry roundtable at 6:30 p.m.
Promoting Arab cultural exchange
The fair also aims to strengthen ties across the Arab world. Institutions such as the Doha International Book Fair, the Sheikh Zayed Chair at the American University of Beirut, and publishers from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria have confirmed their participation.
To promote book access, publishers have been encouraged to offer discounts of up to 25 percent.
The cultural program includes 66 conferences and roundtables, as well as exhibitions and activities covering theater, cinema, geopolitics, economics, and contemporary Arab identity. Book signings will spotlight works addressing recent turmoil in Lebanon, along with regional issues in politics, the humanities, literature, and the arts.
Highlights and tributes
Among the fair’s highlights is a tribute to writer Elias Khoury on Monday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m., featuring reflections from Maher Jarrar, Saker Abou Fakher and Fawaz Traboulsi, moderated by Rana Idriss.
A conference on Tuesday, May 20, at 4 p.m. will mark 50 years since the death of legendary singer Umm Kulthum, with Victor Sahhab, Marlene Younes and Sleiman Bakhti. That evening at 7 p.m., a tribute to composer Toufic al-Basha will feature Father Badih al-Hage, Abido Bacha and Souleiman Bakhti, followed by a musical performance by internationally renowned pianist Abdel Rahman al-Basha.
On Sunday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m., a discussion will honor journalist Michel Abou Jaoudeh. On Wednesday, May 21, at 6 p.m., a conference will be dedicated to the memory of Sheikh Abdallah al-Alayli. A roundtable on Thursday, May 22, at 4 p.m. will commemorate the centenary of intellectual Soleiman al-Boustani. The fair will close Sunday, May 25, with a 5 p.m. tribute to poet Chawki Abou Chaqra, followed at 6:30 p.m. by a conference honoring Amine al-Rihani on the 100th anniversary of his seminal work The Kings of the Arabs.
Engaging the next generation
The fair places particular emphasis on young readers, with 13 activities for schoolchildren organized in collaboration with educational institutions.
Several exhibitions will complement the event: a retrospective on Lebanese cinema, a tribute to the city of Tripoli — named the 2024 cultural capital — a visual history of the fair since its founding in 1966, a graphic arts section by American University of Beirut students and a cartoon exhibition on Gaza.
