Ekushey Book Fair 2026 Sets Record: 12 Million Visitors, 4,000 Titles

Amar Ekushey Boi Mela — the month-long celebration of the Bengali language held every February at Bangla Academy — has shattered its own records with 12 million visitors and 4,000 new book titles, cementing its place as the world's largest Bengali language book fair.

A Sea of Readers

On the closing Sunday alone, 1.2 million visitors thronged the expanded grounds at Suhrawardy Udyan. Total book sales reached BDT 124 crore — up 22% from last year. Young readers aged 18-30 accounted for 42% of purchasers, confounding predictions that digital media would hollow out book readership.

Literary Stars

Novelist Anisul Haque's latest work on the 1971 Liberation War topped sales, while poet Syed Shamsul Haq's posthumous collected works were the most sought-after at the fair. Debut novels by three female writers under 25 each sold more than 10,000 copies.

Beyond Bangladesh

Publishers from West Bengal, Tripura, UK, USA and Australia participated, with 85 foreign publishers. A live streaming programme broadcast readings to Bengali diaspora communities in 40 countries.