The 92nd edition of the Lisbon Book Fair will be the largest edition yet, with 340 pavilions, distributed among 140 participants (10 more than last year) representing hundreds of publishing brands.


New stalls have been built using sustainable materials, which reflects APEL’S effective commitment to sustainability and the environment as well as ensuring accessibility to people with reduced mobility.


For the third year in a row, the event will be held on different dates than the ones that the Portuguese are used to. "This will be the last edition to take place outside the usual calendar, whereby 2023 will see the return of the Fair's usual dates pre-summer. But, unlike the two previous editions, this year the choice of dates was due to the challenges that the production of the new equipment brought, but whose final result will be beneficial to all", explains Pedro Sobral, President of the Portuguese Publishers and Booksellers Association (APEL).



A More Sustainable Book Fair


After several editions with the same pavilions, the Lisbon Book Fair has a new layout through remarkable renovation in hopes of making a smaller ecological footprint in the city, with significantly lower levels of atmospheric, visual and noise pollution.


This edition focuses on the future, aware of the environmental, social and economic impact that the Lisbon Book Fair generates, APEL has prioritised sustainability and continues the measures implemented in previous years, such as the promotion of recycling through their partnership with Sociedade Ponto Verde.

In the search for alternative forms of soft mobility that contribute to making Lisbon a more accessible, less polluted and less noisy city, APEL has established a partnership with EMEL, so that GIRA - a public shared bicycle system - may be the official transport of the Lisbon Book Fair.


The "Donate your Books" pavilion also returns, an initiative in partnership with the Banco de Bens Doados, which challenges visitors to donate new or used books in order to gain new readers. The offers are directed to children supported by ENTRAJUDA institutions. In 2021, this initiative reached figures never recorded, with about 90,000 books donated. Created in 2015, this campaign has already raised more than 150,000 books. The focus on simplification, convenience, speed and safety of payments made at the fair continues, with the acceptance of payments via MB WAY with an ATM also provided.

A Space for Culture and Leisure


The renewed Lisbon Book Fair offers a distinct cultural programme, more complete and with more activities for all ages, similar to what happened in the period before the pandemic. Visitors will be able to attend several presentations, debates, launches, round tables, award ceremonies, autograph sessions and general celebrations centred on books. This year the Fair will have Ukraine as its guest of honour, where there will be a stand dedicated to the country.


As usual, the venue has multiple rest and leisure areas, bathroom facilities and food and beverage areas scattered throughout the Book Fair. It is important to note that FLL is an animal-friendly event and the RefresCão space (fresh water for pets) will be there.


Once again, the already famous "Passadiço" will be installed, which, besides offering all visitors a unique view over the Fair and the city, also allows a natural connection between the two avenues, facilitating and distributing the flow of people throughout the venue.


Lisbon's Municipal Libraries will be present in another edition of FLL, with special emphasis on promoting initiatives aimed at children, families and schools. The Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation and Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa will also develop a specific programme for the event, which will be announced in due course.


"The Book Fair is no longer just a place to buy books; it is a leisure space for the Portuguese who are now having a new found relationship with reading. These pavilions clearly meet those needs, so it was time to make this change", Pedro Sobral further comments.


For more information and to keep up to date with the opening hours, please visit http://feiradolivrodelisboa.pt/ or see @feiradolivrodelisboa on Facebook.