Canada FBM2021 and the Guest of Honour Project at the Frankfurt Book Fair
Final report to the Canadian Publishing Industry
Canada FBM2020’s final report on the Guest of Honour project – March 2022
More About the Guest of Honour
The Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair) is the largest gathering of publishing industry professionals in the world and the most important international marketplace for content. The 73rd edition of the Frankfurter Buchmesse took place from October 20-24, 2021.
Each year, the Frankfurter Buchmesse features a country as its Guest of Honour, who is given the opportunity to showcase its literature and culture at the Fair, in the city of Frankfurt and other regions in Germany. Throughout the year, Guest of Honour activities and cultural events are also presented, with a wide variety of literary events; art and cultural exhibitions; performing arts presentations; and film programs to promote the talent and diversity of its creators.
In 2021, Canada was proud to take the stage as the Guest of Honour and delivered a week of literary and cultural programming during the fair, across the city of Frankfurt, Germany.
At the Handover Ceremony on October 24, 2021, the scroll was handed to Spain, bidding farewell to Canada as the Guest of Honour country.
October 17, 2019 - Guest of Honour ‘Canada 2020’ Press Conference. Photo credit: Karsten Thormaehlen
FAQs
Please note that as of October 24th, 2021, Canada’s role as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair has concluded. The information on this and any related pages is no longer being updated and serves only as a record of past activities.
Being invited by the Frankfurter Buchmesse to be the Guest of Honour country is a prestigious opportunity to showcase a country’s publishing, cultural and creative industries. It is an event of international significance akin to the World Expo and the Olympics for literature. On the international publishing stage, no other event offers a comparable level of visibility and impact.
For Canada, it is an opportunity to increase published works rights sales and to enhance the discoverability of Canadian creative works in the European market and internationally.
In light of COVID-19 global pandemic, the Frankfurter Buchmesse extended Canada’s Guest of Honour presence to 2021. This extension provides Canadian authors, illustrators and creators the opportunity to reschedule, resume or present virtually Guest of Honour literary and cultural events that were canceled, postponed, or modified in Germany due to COVID-19.
Throughout 2021, Canada continues to showcase its publishing industry and promote the sale of Canadian titles in the European market. Canadian cultural events also continue to proceed on the international scene. Canada’s support for our creators and their international ventures also aids the global recovery of creative industries as a whole.
Canada’s Guest of Honour virtual content from 2020 is available online on the Canada FBM 2020’s virtual library as well as on its YouTube channel. Canada’s 2021 Guest of Honour content will also be added and made available for viewing.
From the Blog
Posted on Oct 25, 2021 in Event Updates, Industry News.
Farewell Frankfurt!
Following Sunday afternoon’s Handover Ceremony, Canada FBM2021’s team is en route home to Canada. This landmark ceremony was opened… Read more »
Posted on Oct 23, 2021 in Event Updates, Industry News.
Canada FBM2021 at the Frankfurt Book Fair
The 2021 Frankfurt Book Fair is well underway! At the Opening Ceremony, author Vivek Shraya delivered a moving speech… Read more »
Posted on Oct 6, 2021
The route to FBM 2021—Canada’s Guest of Honour Presence at the 2021 Frankfurt Book Fair
On September 28th, the Frankfurt Book Fair held its annual press conference, attracting an audience of German and international… Read more »