The anticipation for this year’s Buch Wien was great – after a long wait, the biggest event in the Austrian book scene was back at the Vienna Exhibition Center and in the whole city. From November 10th to 14th, 2021 323 exhibitors from 31 countries presented themselves on 12,000 m2.
Thanks to the greatest possible safety precautions – 2G rule, contact tracing, well-thought-out visitor guidance system – the exhibition grounds and the urban locations became a safe place for a total of 41,000 visitors. The guests were finally able to enjoy the incomparable atmosphere of the book fair and the industry had direct contact with colleagues and readers.
Great response from the media and visitors
Together with 513 authors and experts, a book fair that is extraordinary in many respects was implemented this year. As a host country, Russia presented its literature and culture in all their polyphony and aroused anticipation for the host countries in the coming years.
Buch Wien’s on-site offerings were combined with digital offers such as numerous live streams and speakers from all over the world. In Buch Wien’s own online archive at buchwien.at/videos many events will be available to review.
A new format also met with a great response: at the Buch Wien Debate, the audience followed the numerous discussions and lectures by outstanding authors and experts. The evening events, which traditionally took place all over the city, were almost fully booked.
Positive balance and prospect of enlargement
Although the external circumstances were not easy this year due to the health crisis, Buch Wien can look back with satisfaction on successful days at the fair. The positive balance lets the Buch Wien team and the entire industry look to the year 2022 with hope. Buch Wien will take place between November 23 and 27, 2022.
Professional audience and awards
In addition to the colorful program for visitors, the Buch Wien Woche offered numerous opportunities for trade visitors, exhibitors and participants to network. Starting with the presentation of the Austrian Book Prize, the Christine Nöstlinger Prize, the state prizes for the most beautiful books in Austria in 2019 and 2020, and the winners of the Austrian Bookstore Prize in 2020 and 2021 were celebrated over the course of the week. The opening reception for invited guests at the start of the trade fair in the Long Night of Books and the opportunity to meet in the HVB Lounge were great opportunities to exchange ideas and make new business contacts.
You can find impressions of Buch Wien at www.buchwien.at or on the Book Vienna Facebook page.
16.11.2021
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