Thousands flock to International Istanbul Book Fair

ISTANBUL

Thousands of Istanbulites and residents from other cities visited the 36th International Istanbul Book Fair, which opened on Nov. 4 at the TÜYAP Fair Convention and Congress Center in Istanbul’s Büyükçekmece district.

Long queues formed at the entrance of the congress center in the first two days after the official opening on Nov. 4.

The fair is organized by TÜYAP Fairs in partnership with the Turkish Publishers Association.

More than 800 Turkish and foreign publishers and nongovernmental organizations are taking part in this year’s fair, which hosts more than 300 events including workshops for children, lectures by authors, and autograph sessions.

Turkish novelist Ayla Kutlu is the Writer of Honor at this year’s fair and a series of panels and events will be held on the life and works of Kutlu with appearances by the author herself.

South Korea is this year’s Guest of Honor at the fair, celebrating its 36th year. South Korea’s booth can be visited in the International Hall for the first four days of the fair until Nov. 7 and will promote South Korean literature and culture.

The fair will continue until Nov. 12.

More than half a million people visited the fair last year.