54th Book Festival opens in Athens

The 54th Book Festival in Pedion tou Areos Park in Greece is one of the highlights of the autumn season and officially opens on Monday.

The event, which has now moved from its traditional venue at the Zappeion to Pedion tou Areos, will run until September 20, transforming one of the capital’s largest green spaces into a vibrant open-air library, CE Report quotes ANA-MPA.

This year’s festival is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the Attica Regional Authority and the Municipality of Athens. It is organised and supported by the Association of Greek Book Publishers.

This year’s event stands out both for its scale and for its strong social and environmental focus. The central theme is "Sustainable Development: The Book as the Architect of Tomorrow." Through this theme, the festival seeks to highlight the role of literature and knowledge in fostering collective awareness. It also aims to promote environmental awareness and social responsibility in the face of the challenges confronting the planet and future generations.

A total of 285 modern stands have been set up, hosting 210 publishing houses from across Greece. Visitors will have the opportunity to browse thousands of book titles, including new releases, classic works, essays, comics and children’s literature. They will also be able to meet and speak directly with authors at the "Authors’ Corner".

Beyond the commercial side of the event, the 2026 Book Festival will feature a programme of more than 200 parallel cultural events.

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