İZKİTAPFEST Opens in Kültürpark with the Enthusiasm of Spring

Organized by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, İZKİTAPFEST – the 5th İzmir Book Fair, will open its doors on April 18 at Kültürpark with the theme “Children and Art.” Running until April 27, the fair will host publishing houses, secondhand booksellers, auctions, guest authors, exhibitions, talks, and book signings, offering a 10-day cultural festival. It will also host April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day events, featuring talks on children’s literature and colorful workshops.

Jointly organized by İZFAŞ and TACT Fairs under the auspices of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, İZKİTAPFEST – the 5th İzmir Book Fair will bring book lovers together in Kültürpark from April 18–27, 2025, in a festival-like atmosphere. The opening ceremony will take place on April 18 at 2:00 PM in front of Kültürpark’s Lozan Gate, ushering in the spring spirit to the city. Hosting April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day events, this year’s main theme of the fair is “Children and Art.” Welcoming visitors in special areas throughout Kültürpark with the joy of spring, the fair will be free of charge and open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM for 10 days.

Nearly 600 Events, Book Signings, and Talks
With 247 exhibitors setting up stands across Kültürpark, İZKİTAPFEST – the 5th İzmir Book Fair will bring together authors, publishing houses, and all components of the publishing industry with readers. Beyond book shopping, the fair will also reflect Turkey’s cultural, political, and social pulse, offering nearly 600 events, book signings, and talks to create a true cultural festival for book lovers in Kültürpark.

Honorary Guests’ Talks and Cartoon Exhibition
The honorary guests of İZKİTAPFEST – the 5th İzmir Book Fair are author, cartoonist, and documentary filmmaker Behiç Ak, and philosopher and writer Wilhelm Schmid. Behiç Ak will meet readers on April 18 at 3:00 PM in the talk “A Conversation on Art and Literature with Behiç Ak,” moderated by Müren Beykan. In addition, as an honorary guest, Ak will enrich the fair with a Cartoon Exhibition held at İzmir Art Center between April 18–22. The international honorary guest Wilhelm Schmid will give a talk on April 19 at 2:00 PM titled “Does Striving for Happiness Make Individuals and Society More Unhappy?”

Famous Authors and Poets Arriving
The fair will also host Ahmet Ümit, Ercan Kesal, Enver Aysever, Murat Yetkin, Pınar Öğünç, Sinan Meydan, Banu Avar, Ayşe Tolga, Zeynep Altıok, Akın Birdal, Ahmet Telli, Tacettin Bayır, Mustafa Balbay, İlber Ortaylı, Aret Vartanyan, Murat Ağırel, and Timur Soykan, among others. They will meet their readers at Kültürpark over the 10-day period through talks, book signings, and new book launches.

Event Schedule Available at www.kitapizmir.com
Held in the heart of İzmir at Kültürpark, which is easily accessible from everywhere, the book fair is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors in a festive atmosphere. Details about participating publishing houses, events, talks, book signing schedules, transportation, and more can be found on the official website. İZKİTAPFEST – İzmir Book Fair will be held twice in Kültürpark in 2025: from April 18–27 and again from October 17–26.