Bookfest Chisinau opens its 2026 edition; readers invited to celebrate books for five days

Hundreds of titles, book launches, meetings with writers and special offers await readers at the 2026 Bookfest Chisinau International Book Fair, inaugurated at the Mediacor Center today. The event brings together publishing houses from Moldova and Romania for five days and offers the public a rich schedule of cultural events. The event takes place during September 2-6 at the Mediacor Center and other cultural venues in the capital.

The event is held under the high patronage of the President Maia Sandu and  President of Romania Nicusor Dan.

“Bookfest Chisinau is more than a book fair. It is a space for meetings, dialogue and the exchange of ideas, where writers, publishers and readers contribute to strengthening a community united by values, memory and aspirations. Through reading, we learn to respect diverse opinions, value dialogue and defend the democratic values that form the foundation of a free society,” reads a message from Romanian President Nicusorr Dan.





Minister of Culture Dan Suruceanu emphasized the importance of the event in promoting reading and supporting publishing houses.

“At this event, books are at home, close to those who are eager to study, as well as to those who wish to present the fruits of the knowledge they gain by studying a book. The Culture Ministry supports these activities, supports publishing houses and promotes everything related to the written word,” Dan Suruceanu said.





Representatives of the participating publishing houses say that the public is showing interest in a wide range of titles, including specialized books.

“At this fair, we are presenting monographs, works on history and ethnography, as well as titles on biology, anthropology and popular science. We notice that those who come to our stand have a specific interest in certain fields and topics. We are pleased that there is interest in specialized books. We believe that book fairs are important both for publishing houses and for readers, giving them the opportunity to discover new titles and authors. In particular, we would like to see as many young people as possible, because an appreciation for books and reading must be cultivated from an early age,” Nadia Potîngă, representative of the “LEXON-PRIM” publishing house, told MOLDPRES.





Among the exhibitors, there is also “Bookzone,” a publishing house and online bookstore that has experienced rapid growth on Romania’s book market and is participating in the fair with a diverse portfolio of titles.

“We are at Bookfest with a very large portfolio of books, including titles associated with films and Netflix productions. Those who visit us starting this afternoon will certainly also have the opportunity to leave with a gift. For us, participating in Bookfest Chisinau is important; we have Romanian and international authors. Direct interaction with readers is very important. It is an opportunity to meet them, talk with them and, above all, learn their opinions about the books they read and what they would like to find in bookstores,” a Bookzone representative told the MOLDPRES Agency.

Admission to the events is free, and the full schedule of the 2026 Bookfest Chisinau International Book Fair is available on the event’s official website.

The MOLDPRES State News Agency is a media partner of the 2026 Bookfest Chisinau International Book Fair, the most important publishing event on both banks of the Prut River.