“Books Build Bridges Between Civilisations,” Says Qatar Ambassador at New Delhi World Book Fair 2026

New Delhi (Fikrokhabar News): The 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) will be held from January 10 to 18, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, bringing together publishers, authors, and readers from across the world. Widely regarded as the world’s largest B2C book fair, the event is being organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, under the Ministry of Education, with the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) as co-organiser.

This year’s edition marks a significant first: entry to the fair will be completely free for all visitors. Organisers say the move reflects a strong commitment to making books, reading, and knowledge accessible to every section of society. The fair is expected to host more than 1,000 publishers from over 35 countries, feature more than 600 literary and cultural events, and attract nearly two million visitors over nine days.

The fair will be inaugurated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with senior dignitaries from Qatar and Spain. Qatar has been named the Guest of Honour Country, while Spain will serve as the Focus Country, highlighting the fair’s growing international profile.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the event, Qatar’s Ambassador to India, His Excellency Mohammad Hassan Jabir Al-Jabir, emphasised the power of books and culture in fostering understanding among nations. Describing the World Book Fair as one of the region’s most important cultural platforms, he said Qatar’s participation reflects its belief in culture and knowledge as tools for building connections between peoples.

The ambassador noted that Qatar’s role as Guest of Honour underscores its commitment to cultural and intellectual dialogue and to strengthening knowledge exchange between India and the Arab world—two civilisations with deep historical and cultural roots. He recalled Qatar’s participation in previous editions, including the launch of a Malayalam-language book on Qatar’s history and society, calling it a meaningful step in reaching readers across languages and cultures.

Highlighting Qatar’s recent scholarly contributions, the ambassador referred to the launch of The Doha Historical Dictionary of Arabic, describing it as a landmark project that traces the development of Arabic vocabulary across centuries. He said the initiative reflects Qatar’s support for research, knowledge production, and the global promotion of the Arabic language.

“Books are not just carriers of knowledge,” he said, “but universal messages that encourage openness, understanding, and dialogue beyond borders.” He expressed confidence that Qatar’s participation would enrich the fair and thanked Indian partners, organisers, and the media for their support.

NBT Director Yuvraj Malik outlined the scale of NDWBF 2026, announcing that more than 3,000 stalls will be set up and over 600 events organised during the fair. He said participation from 35 countries, along with Qatar as Guest of Honour and Spain as Focus Country, reflects the fair’s growing stature on the global publishing stage.

One of the major attractions will be the Theme Pavilion titled “Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75”, spread across 1,000 square metres in Mall No. 5. The pavilion will offer an immersive experience showcasing India’s armed forces since Independence through books, rare footage, documentaries, exhibits, and replicas of iconic defence platforms, along with tributes to Param Vir Chakra awardees.

The fair will also feature a dedicated children’s pavilion, Indian language pavilions, international exhibition spaces, and special exhibitions marking 150 years of Vande Mataram and the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Author interactions, cultural programmes, international publishing meets, and initiatives such as the Prime Minister’s YUVA scheme for young authors will further enrich the programme.

Also speaking at the event, His Excellency Jassim Ahmad MA Al-Buainain described the World Book Fair as a vital platform for cultural exchange. He said Qatar’s pavilion would showcase publications, live events, heritage displays, handicrafts, and traditional music, reflecting Qatari culture and the long-standing ties between Qatar and India.

With free entry, wide international participation, and a strong focus on dialogue, history, and culture, the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 aims to place books once again at the heart of public life—truly serving as bridges between civilisations.

Source: Press conference statements, National Book Trust (NBT)