The 36th Hong Kong Book Fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully on July 21, 2026, attracting 990,000 visits over seven days. The fair, held concurrently with the 9th Sports and Leisure Expo and 6th World of Snacks, brought together more than 770 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions. Under the theme "Reading the World: Cultural Legacy | Joyful Journeys," the event enabled book lovers to explore global histories and cultures, while the accompanying fairs created synergies offering a diverse experience. With a single ticket, visitors enjoyed reading, sports, leisure activities, and international snacks.
Jenny Koo, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, noted that despite heavy rain early on, visitor enthusiasm remained high, especially over the weekend. She highlighted the success of cultural seminars, including a full-house session by Liu Zhenyun, and the inaugural ASEAN Literary Festival, which facilitated direct engagement between ASEAN authors and readers. The fair also marked HKTDC's 60th anniversary with a community art creation workshop involving over 100 students.
A survey of more than 860 respondents found average spending at HK$923, with over 90% of exhibitors accepting electronic payments and 85% of visitors using them. The primary purpose for attending was purchasing newly released books (45%), followed by enjoying discounts (43%) and experiencing the cultural atmosphere (23%). Fiction was the most popular genre (46%), followed by literature (22%) and comics (21%). Notably, 98.2% of respondents achieved their intended objectives.
Visitors like Ms. Lam, who spent around HK$20,000 on children's books and educational toys, and Mr. Chan, who spent over HK$30,000 on literature and teaching materials, exemplified strong spending. Exhibitors reported robust sales; Cosmos Books launched 40 new titles, while Bangzo Books HK sold nearly 90% of inventory by the fifth day. First-time exhibitor Emirates Publishers Association secured rights agreements for 25 titles, highlighting cross-regional business collaboration.
The fair also served as a platform for industry exchange. The International Publishing Forum and IP Roundtable focused on AI's impact on publishing and copyright, drawing over 250 professionals. The forum explored AI's role in enhancing reading efficiency and cross-sector cooperation, while the roundtable discussed IP regulation changes and licensing strategies. These discussions reinforced Hong Kong's role as a regional intellectual property trading centre.
Cultural activities continue through July under the "Cultural July • Joyful Summer Reading" initiative, with events across Hong Kong. The Sports and Leisure Expo attracted over 3,600 visitors to its multi-sport playground, while the World of Snacks offered diverse culinary experiences. The HKTDC will host further events in the second half of 2026, including the Food Expo and Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, reinforcing Hong Kong's status as an international business hub.
