Tüyap Book Fairs

TÜYAP Book Fairs: A Cultural Tradition Spanning Decades

Driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of literature, the universality of knowledge, and the enduring power of books to bring people together, our journey continues to shape Türkiye’s intellectual and cultural landscape with nearly five decades of experience. TÜYAP Book Fairs have brought readers, authors, illustrators, translators, publishers, and other key stakeholders from the publishing industry together under one roof since the very beginning, becoming a living part of Türkiye’s cultural heritage passed down from generation to generation.

Our Story

Milestones in Our Journey

Explore the history and evolution of TÜYAP Book Fairs, from their humble beginnings to large-scale events with an international reach, through the chronological timeline below.

1982

The First Step and a Bold Cultural Vision:

İstanbul Kitap Fuarı opened its doors for the first time on Saturday, November 13, 1982, at the TÜYAP Trade Center beneath what is now The Marmara Hotel in Taksim, Istanbul. With 28 pioneering publishers participating, the fair occupied an area of just 650 square meters and welcomed more than 50,000 book lovers over nine days. This bold initiative, launched to support books, publishing, and reading culture, laid the foundation for the major book fairs of today.
1987

The Beginning of the Honorary Author Tradition:

To bring intellectual depth to our fairs and pay tribute during their lifetime to distinguished figures who have shaped Turkish literature, the Honorary Author program was introduced. The first honorary author welcomed as part of this tradition was Fazıl Hüsnü Dağlarca, one of the most celebrated names in Turkish poetry.
1989

Themed Fairs and Focused Events:

With the aim of transforming the fairs beyond exhibition and retail spaces and strengthening their connection with social issues, a special theme began to be selected each year. The inaugural theme, “Peace and Books” resonated strongly with audiences and established a tradition that continues to shape the cultural identity of the fairs.
2000

Moving to Büyükçekmece:

As visitor numbers grew rapidly and publishers required larger exhibition spaces, İstanbul Kitap Fuarı moved to the modern TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center in Büyükçekmece. This transformation brought the event to an exhibition venue spanning tens of thousands of square meters and meeting international standards.
2000ler

Bringing Book Fairs Across Türkiye:

The extensive experience and growing success achieved in Istanbul were gradually brought to other regions of Türkiye. TÜYAP Book Fairs held in major industrial and cultural centers such as İzmir, Bursa, Adana, Diyarbakır, Samsun, Eskişehir, Erzurum, and Gaziantep helped spread the love of reading across the country.
2010

Guest of Honor Country Program:

To strengthen the fair’s international network, introduce readers in Türkiye to literature from different parts of the world, and build bridges between cultures through literature, the Guest of Honor Country program was launched.
2011

Official International Recognition:

İstanbul Kitap Fuarı officially received the title of “International Specialized Fair” after meeting international publishing standards. The fair gained a prominent place on the calendars of copyright agencies, international publishers, and renowned authors from around the world.
Günümüz

More Than Half a Million Visitors Every Year:

Today, TÜYAP Book Fairs continue their journey as major cultural events, bringing together hundreds of publishers and non-governmental organizations, thousands of authors, and more than half a million book lovers every year.

Tüyap Book Fairs

Take your place at the next gathering

Size en yakın TÜYAP Kitap Fuarını keşfedin; kitapların, yazarların ve yeni fikirlerin dünyasına katılın.

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A Journey into Reading Culture

From the excitement of the very first booth to the vast halls now bustling with hundreds of thousands of book lovers, this journey represents not only an organizational achievement but also a lasting contribution to our country’s reading culture and intellectual life.
Culture That Brings Cities Together

Today, the Tüyap Book Fairs, held across a vast region stretching from Istanbul to the Black Sea, and from Çukurova to the Aegean and Central Anatolia, bring vibrancy to the social and cultural life of every city they visit. Book signings, panels and talks, children’s workshops, and literary gatherings transform our cities into lively cultural festivals.
Literature from Tradition to the Future

As TÜYAP Book Fairs, we combine the innovations of our time with our deep-rooted experience, while remaining true to our mission of promoting reading habits and embracing every facet of literature. As we respond to the evolving needs of the publishing world, we remain firmly committed to serving as independent meeting points where literature and intellectual life are freely represented.

Discover

Discover the Fairs

TÜYAP Kitap Fuarları’nın ilk adımlardan uluslararası ölçekteki dev organizasyonlara uzanan köklü tarihini ve gelişim evrelerini aşağıdaki kronolojik akış üzerinden inceleyebilirsiniz:

Tüm Fuarlar