fiction and non-fiction at Leipzig Book Fair

Impression von der Ausstellungsfläche der Leipziger Buchmesse 2024 mit Messeständen und Besucher:innen

Leipzig Book Fair is the place for literary discoveries, offering a broad spectrum of new German and international publications. In addition to major publishing houses, numerous independent publishers are represented, offering insights into literature far removed from the mainstream.

Visitors to the Book Fair will find literature and non-fiction not only at the exhibition stands but also at over 20 forums and stages – including the literature and non-fiction forums, #buchbar, the Forum Offene Gesellschaft, the Forum Die Unabhängigen and the signing area in Hall 4. The programme of events offers personal encounters with authors and invites visitors to discover new topics and trends.

Exhibition areas

Halls 2, 3, 4 and 5 cover the wide range of fiction and non-fiction books on offer.

One focus of the exhibitors in hall 2 is on non-fiction, due to the adjacent exhibition areas of specialist books, travel and religion. The two event forums, Forum Sachbuch: Horizonte (Non-fiction Forum: Horizons) and Forum Sachbuch: Wissen (Non-fiction Forum: Knowledge), attract numerous visitors. Hall 2 also hosts large and small literary publishers, whose stage is the Forum Wortwelten (Forum Wordworlds). The authors of fiction and non-fiction publishers can also be found on the adjacent media stages of MDR and Deutschlandradio.

Fantasy literature is mainly located in hall 3.

Hall 4 is home to large and small literary publishers. Events take place in the Forum Literaturlandschaft (Forum Literary Landscape) and in the Literatur- und Sachbuchforum Zwischenzeilen (Literature and Non-Fiction Forum Between the Lines). In the transition to the international area, the event forum ‘Österreich Kaffeehaus’ (Austrian Coffee House) is the centre of the Austrian publishing presentations.

Hall 5 focuses on independent publishers. They present literature and non-fiction books outside the mainstream and offer diverse, often surprising insights into the contemporary book landscape. In addition to the many exhibition stands and the Lesereise (Reading Tour) and Forum Sachbuch: Kontexte (Non-Fiction Forum: Contexts) forums, the Swiss exhibition stand with its reading stage is a magnet for visitors.

Stage discussion on the “Die Unabhängigen” stage at the 2025 Book Fair

Independent publishers

If you want to get an overview of the wealth of young German-language literature, Leipzig is the place to be. Independent publishers are causing a stir: Their publishing presentations and programmes can be admired in the Forum “Die Unabhängigen” [Forum The Independents] and at the Indie Bühne [Indie Stage] (formerly Leseinsel der Jungen Verlage [Young Publishers’ Reading Island]) in hall 5. With Die Unabhängigen. Spätausgabe[The Independants: Late Edition], they also lure the public to the Westflügel.

A woman stands reading a book in front of a large bookcase at the Leipzig Book Fair in 2025.

Fantasy

Literature is probably one of the most beautiful escapes from everyday life you can find. This is especially true of fantasy. The Leipzig Book Fair is dedicated to this creative genre with its own exhibition area and the SERAPH fantasy prize. Readers will find the spring publications at the fair, can meet their favourite authors at numerous readings and feed the world of their books with new reading material.

Stage discussion with two participants on stage at the Forum New Adult at the Leipzig Book Fair 2025

Beyond Pages Stage (formerly Forum New Adult)

New Adult is booming – and Leipzig Book Fair offers this young, avid reading target group a powerful stage. New Adult appeals primarily to young adults – mainly with genres such as romance, romantasy, fantasy, thriller and dark romance. New Adult fans can meet their stars and publishers in several halls, especially in halls 4, 3 and 2.

Beyond Pages Stage (formerly Forum New Adult) fans can find their stars and publishers in several halls at Leipzig Book Fair. In addition to the exhibitor stands, there will also be exciting readings. Authors from Beyond Pages Stage (formerly Forum New Adult) will also be waiting for their fans in the signing area in Hall 4 F300.

Stage discussion with three participants at lit love on tour in front of a packed audience during the Leipzig Book Fair 2025

Event programme of Leipzig Book Fair

Every year in spring, the event programme and the Leipzig liest reading festival start at the same time as the book fair. The special orientation as a European readers’ and authors’ fair in combination with the unique connection of city and fair thus creates the greatest possible visibility for books and authors. Literary celebrities from Germany and abroad, up-and-coming authors, actors and pop stars showcase the entire spectrum of the book market. They invite the audience to raise and discuss new questions from fresh perspectives. The variety of literature thus offers every reading fan new impulses and inspiration.