The largest italian book fair

Thousands of publishers gather yearly at the Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino exhibition area, Italy’s largest book fair, which registered 222,000 attendees in 2024. The 1988-born Turin public-facing fair also features over 2,000 International guests and 1,200 public events annually. Whether in literature, philosophy, science, art, journalism, religion, cinema or music, the fair’s panel program includes the most influential and interesting personalities of the cultural environment worldwide. However, Salone del Libro does not only happen during the month of May.

The fair involves all the players in the book community: publishers, authors, booksellers, teachers and students, professionals, and many readers. One of Salone del Libro’s focuses is schools and teenagers. Supported by Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, it offers various activities throughout the year for students across Italy. This section serves as a laboratory of ideas where students can experiment, explore and discuss while using the best editorial materials for kids and teenagers. There are ongoing many projects throughout the year, but the longest-running one is Adotta uno scrittore, which has been bringing the most relevant contemporary authors to schools and prisons since 2004. The Educare alla lettura courses are conceived for teachers and are available at the fair and online throughout the year to promote reading among younger generations.

Imaginary Life was the title of the XXXVI edition, the first directed by Annalena Benini. Inspired by Natalia Ginzburg’s homonymous book, the title evokes creativity in all its countless forms. The book fair’s key visual was signed by illustrator Sara Colaone.
The XXXVI edition was officially inaugurated by Pulitzer-Prize winning author Elisabeth Strout.
This year’s reiteration of the Salone has a strong international flavor: imaginary life takes us to worlds near and far, in a fascinating cultural mix. Internationally acclaimed authors include: Nicolas Barreau, Sally Bayley, Christophe Boltanski, Anthony Cartwright, Pablo Casacuberta, Jessa Crispin, Naoise Dolan, James Ellroy, Asli Erdogan, Didier Eribon, Alicia Giménez Bartlett, Will Ferguson, Ninni Holmqvist, Yu Hua, Radhika Jha, Lola Larra, Björn Larsson Rebecca Makkai,, Alberto Manguel, Lu Min, Szilvia Molnar, Bae Myung-Hoon, David Nicholls, Amélie and Juliette Nothomb, Ron Rash, Sylvie Richterová, Murata Sayaka, Camila Sosa Villada, Marianne Woolf, Pajtim Statovci, Elizabeth Strout, Witold Szabłowski, Joy Williams.