Helsinki Book Fair offers a record number of events, more than 30 international author guests
The Helsinki Book Fair 24-27.10.2024 at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre offers programme on 17 stages. There will be two new stages – the Arabia stage, which focuses on craft and hobby literature, and the Busholmen stage for children’s literature in Swedish. In addition to the the star Finnish writers of 2024, more than 30 international guests will be appearing at the fair. “The unbelievable diversity of the programme is the strength of the Helsinki Book Fair,” says Programme Director Ville Blåfield.
Helsinki Book Fair, the largest literary event in the Nordic countries, is preparing for its 25th anniversary next year and is already offering more venues and a record number of events. More than 1 500 writers, influencers, artists and decision-makers will take to the stage. Over four days, there will be nearly 1,000 debates, interviews and book launches, while children will play and explore literature in the children's area. The theme of this year’s Helsinki Book Fair is The Future.
”Writing new literature, finding it, publishing it, putting it in the hands of readers and finallu reading it – and sharing it with other readers – are all acts of the future. Signs of constant renewal of culture and thought, of evolution,” says Programme Director Ville Blåfield.
A diverse programme for all readers
The venues of the Helsinki Book Fair are named after the districts and places of Helsinki. The programmes on the stages are lightly themed. The Book Fair will feature a detective story Saturday, a non-fiction programme by Tietotori (Thu-Fri), a poetry programme compiled by the Young Power Union (Sun), a programme by the Finnish Writers’ Union (Sat) and the Finnish Informational Writers’ Association (Sat), and a programme for young people at the Kallio High School of Expressive Arts (KirjaKallio). This year there will be a lot of comics (Sat) and discussions on translation. Topical issues that move with the times will also take to the stage at the Helsinki Book Fair. These include Ukraine and Russia, Palestine, Israel and the Middle East, and the US presidential election, but also nature cover, the climate crisis and the impact of artificial intelligence on literature.
This year’s Helsinki Book Fair will feature international stars such as Donna Leon, Sarah Lark, Elly Griffiths and Liv Strömquist. Ingeborg Arvola, the Brage Prize winner from Norway, and Johannes Anyuru, the August Prize winner from Sweden, will also be in Helsinki. Naomi Alderman will attend the Book Fair online. Almost all the well-known Finnish authors who will publish a book in 2024 will be present, as well as a large number of first-time authors. On Thursday 24 October, President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb will take to the stage to discuss the future of Sweden and Finland in HBL’s 160th anniversary programme. This will be followed by an interview with Stubb on the books on the President’s bookshelf. President Tarja Halonen will be at the Book Fair on Saturday and Sunday to discuss with Meri Valkama the book Inheritance, and to interview academy researcher Timo Miettinen about his new book, Time of Democracy.
The theme of the future is present in many of the programmes, but especially in the discussions on the future, where Aino Miikkulainen, the Chief Culture Officer of Helsingin Sanomat, and Blåfield of the Helsinki Book Fair discuss the future of books, reading and literature together with star Finnish authors, artists and decision-makers. Helsingin Sanomat also features daily interviews with authors and on Sunday 27 October the finalists of the HS Prize for First Book will be presented. The Helsinki Book Fair will again this year award 10 prizes, including the Information Writers’ Prize, the Young Aleksis Prize for Secondary Education and the Book Industry Promotion Prize.
Encounters are important at the Book Fair
There are many unexpected encounters at the Book Fair. Li Andersson will be seen on the fairgrounds with both comic artist Liv Strömquist and writer Johannes Anyuru. Sofi Oksanen will interview Swedish thriller master Arne Dahl on Friday 25 October. Iida Turpeinen, Olli Jalonen and Pirkko Saisio will all meet their translators at the Book Fair. The 80th anniversary of the first Moomin book will be celebrated with a series of debates, including an interview with Board Chair Sophia Jansson.
There will also be a record number of activities for children and families, and a new feature of the fair is the Character Parade at noon on Sunday 27 October, featuring Supermarsu, Kakkakikkare, Tatu and Patu, and Herra Hakkarainen.
Once again the popular book clubs, which there are a total of ten of, will take place on Thursday and Friday, where the readers can meet the authors. You can also meet the authors at the stands signing points and at the BookGram meeting point, where the authors come to meet the readers. BookGram will also have a stronger presence at the Book Fair. There will be a panel of debut authors from the BookGram, a trend report from BookGram, discussions on the classics and the future, and stressful or inspiring reading challenges.
A nationally significant cultural forum and literary event
The Helsinki Book Fair promotes reading, the appreciation of literature and book sales in Finland. The event is a nationally siginificant cultural forum; a topical pioneer, a challenging debater, a storyteller and a cultivator of the heart. The main values of the Helsinki Book Fair are freedom of expression, equality and respect for human dignity.
Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre organises the Helsinki Book Fair 24-27.10.2024 at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre in cooperation with the Finnish Publishers and Booksellers Association. The Helsinki Book Fair will be accompanied by the Antiquarian Book Fair, organised in cooperation with the Finnish Antiquarian Booksellers Association. The Helsinki Book Fair also includes a Record Fair and a Stamp Fair. At the same time, there will be the Wine & Food event and On the Plate Fair, which focuses on special diets.
Keywords
Contacts
Spokesperson Teija Armanto, Messukeskus, tel. 050 376 0804, teija.armanto@messukeskus.com
Programme Director Ville Blåfield, tel. 050 310 3017, ville.blafield@messukeskus.com
Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelsinginKirjamessut
Instagram: @helsinginkirjamessut
Twitter/ X: @kirjamessutHKI
Mediabank for the Helsinki Book Fair: http://mediabank.messukeskus.com
Subscribe to releases from Messukeskus
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Messukeskus by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Messukeskus
I love me -messujen muodin ystävä Sami Sykkö poimi muoti-ilmiöt vuoden himotuksesta vuoden yllättäjään7.11.2024 08:30:00 EET | Tiedote
I love me -messujen muodin ystävä Sami Sykkö on valinnut vuoden 2024 kiinnostavimmat muoti-ilmiöt tapahtuman tarjonnasta. Suomalaisten muotibrändien joukkoon on ilmestynyt uusia nimiä, joista kiinnostavimmat Sykkö poimi kategorioissa: vuoden suomalainen, vuoden näkijä, vuoden himotus, vuoden kestävä ja vuoden yllättäjä. I love me näyttää kauneuden, muodin ja hyvinvoinnin kiinnostavimmat brändit ja tuoreimmat trendit Helsingin Messukeskuksessa 29.11.–1.12.2024.
Matkamessujen Vastuullisuuskilpailu avattu6.11.2024 10:00:00 EET | Tiedote
Suomen Messusäätiö on myöntänyt jälleen 10 000 euron palkintorahan matkailualalle suunnattuun Vastuullisuuskilpailuun, jossa etsitään vastuullisuuteen pohjautuvia matkailutuotteita ja -palveluita. Kilpailun pitchausfinaali järjestetään Matkamessujen ammattilaispäivänä 16.1. Suurelle yleisölle Matkamessut avataan Helsingin Messukeskuksessa 17.–19.1.2025.
Hammaslääketieteen uutuudet ja kansainväliset huippuosaajat esittäytyvät Hammaslääkäripäivillä5.11.2024 09:42:46 EET | Tiedote
Suomen suurin hammaslääketieteen täydennyskoulutustapahtuma ja näyttely avautuu Helsingin Messukeskuksessa huomenna. Hammaslääkäripäivien luento-ohjelma järjestetään keskiviikosta perjantaihin 6.–8.11. ja alan uutuuksia esittelevä näyttely torstaina ja perjantaina 7.–8.11. Hammaslääkäripäivät järjestetään tänä vuonna jo 85. kerran.
Habitaren 2025 teema tutustuu inhimilliseen tarpeeseemme koskea ja tuntea asioita5.11.2024 08:30:00 EET | Tiedote
Habitaren 2025 teema Koskettaa/Touch pureutuu inhimilliseen tarpeeseemme kokea, koskea ja tunnustella asioita. Teema kehottaa tutkimaan moniaistillisesti tiloja, valjastamaan aidon uteliaisuuden osaksi kokemusta ja löytämään pinnoista tunteen. Pohjoismaiden johtava huonekalu-, muotoilu- ja sisustustapahtuma Habitare järjestetään Helsingin Messukeskuksessa 10.–14.9.2025.
“Skilled, Friendly and Responsible” – Qualities Valued by Congress Organisers at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre4.11.2024 11:51:19 EET | Tiedote
Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre will host eight major international congresses in 2025, drawing over 25,000 participants. Our success is based on top-notch services and experienced staff, as well as showcasing Finland’s award-winning expertise in happiness and sustainability.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom