New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 begins
The 53rd edition of the world’s biggest B2C book fair, the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), was inaugurated today at the iconic Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The nine-day mega event is organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, under the Ministry of Education, and co-organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO). For the first time ever, entry to the Fair has been made free for all visitors from 10–18 January. The Fair brings together 1,000+ publishers from over 35 countries, features 600+ events, 1,000+ speakers, and is expected to attract over 2 million visitors.
The Fair was inaugurated by Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, in the presence of HE Mohammed Hassan Jabir Al Jabir, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to India; HE Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of Culture, State of Qatar; Ernest Urtasun Domènech, Minister for Culture of Spain; Professor Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, NBT-India; Ms María José Gálvez, Director General of Books, Comics and Reading, Ministry of Culture, Spain; Vineet Joshi, IAS, Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education; Neeraj Kharwal, IAS, Managing Director, ITPO; Premjit Lal, ITS, Executive Director, ITPO; and Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT & CEO, NDWBF, among other dignitaries. A key highlight of the day was the launch of the translated editions of “The Saga of Kudopali: The Unsung Story of 1857” in nine Indian languages, including Bangla, Punjabi, Assamiya, Malayalam, Urdu, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Spanish. The book brings to light a lesser-known chapter of India’s First War of Independence by chronicling the resistance that emerged from Kudopali in Sambalpur, Odisha, under the leadership of Veer Surendra Sai and local freedom fighters.
The uprising at Kudopali in Sambalpur was not a fleeting act of resistance but a guerrilla rebellion that spanned generations, sustained by collective memory, local leadership and an enduring spirit of defiance. Even in the face of repression, arrests and exile, it became the longest armed rebellion against colonial rule from 1827 to 1862.
A rare example of intergenerational resistance, The Saga of Kudopali, highlights the forgotten heroes of the Indian Independence struggle whose stories were lost to time. This effort to revive and celebrate unsung heroes is in line with the Prime Minister's vision of recognising and honoring India’s lesser-known freedom fighters and their enduring legacy. Speaking on the occasion, the education minister said that NDWBF 2026, the world’s largest B2C book fair, is not only a confluence of ideas but also a grand celebration of India’s robust and vibrant reading culture. He further said that the theme of the Book Fair, “Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @ 75,” and the participation of countries such as Qatar and Spain, has further enhanced the significance of the cultural and literary event.
Addressing the gathering, the education minister said that the book “The Saga of Kudopali: The Untold Story of 1857,” which brings to light lesser-known chapters of the freedom struggle on the land of Sambalpur, have been released in 9 Indian languages, including Bengali, Assamiya, Punjabi, Marathi, Malayalam and Urdu, as well as one international language, Spanish.
He noted that the book had earlier been released in Hindi, English and Odia and is now available in 13 languages.
He described the book as a commendable effort to honour the legacy of Veer Surendra Sai ji and the sacrifices of the martyrs of Kudopali. The initiative, he added, also strengthens India’s tradition of multilingualism and global dialogue.
Mr Ernest Urtasun Domènech, Hon’ble Minister for Culture of Spain, highlighted Spain’s participation during the Spain–India Dual Year 2026, noting that the Fair offers a valuable opportunity to promote Spanish writers in India, where interest in the Spanish language and literature continues to grow. He recalled the historic literary connection between Juan Ramón Jiménez and Rabindranath Tagore.
H.E. Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, Hon’ble Minister of Culture, State of Qatar, said Qatar’s participation reflects the depth of bilateral relations between the two countries and reaffirmed the role of culture and knowledge as foundations for people-to-people ties and nation-building.
Delivering the welcome address, Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, NBT-India, said the Fair seeks to address three key questions – why to read, what to read and how to read – and aims to nurture a lasting reading culture, especially among the youth. He highlighted how the national mottos of India, Qatar and Spain reflect shared values of truth, progress and collective participation, all of which find expression at the Fair.
Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT, India, said, “Publishing for us is not an act of profit but an act of purpose. Every book released at the Fair contributes to nation-building. I express my gratitude to the Hon’ble Education Minister for his vision and leadership, and wish everyone nine days of enriching literary celebration filled with valour and wisdom.”
Minister of Education, along with the Ministers of Culture from Qatar and Spain, also inaugurated the Theme Pavilion ‘Indian Military History: Valour & Wisdom @75’ (Hall 5) and two special exhibitions commemorating 150 years of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and ‘Vande Mataram’. Dignitaries also visited the International Pavilion, Guest of Honour Pavilion (Qatar), Focus Country Pavilion (Spain) and the Children’s Pavilion.
The Theme Pavilion is a 1,000 sq. metre immersive, 360-degree experience showcasing 500+ books, curated exhibits, documentaries and installations, including replicas of the Arjun Tank, INS Vikrant and LCA Tejas, tributes to 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, and sessions on key military operations from Budgaon 1947 to Operation Sindoor, supported by 100+ theme-based events. Apart from Qatar (Guest of Honour) and Spain (Focus Country), the Fair features participation from publishers and cultural institutions across 35+ countries, including Russia, Japan, France, Poland, Iran, Kazakhstan, Hungary and Chile, and marks the first-time participation of 10 international book fair directors.
The Children’s Pavilion – Kidz Express offers engaging activities for young readers, while the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya provides access to 6,000+ free e-books, promoting inclusive reading across languages and regions.
