From April 23 to 26, Tbilisi Book Fair returns to Expo Georgia, but this year it feels less like a traditional fair and more like a cultural mix.
Books are still at the center, but they’re no longer the only focus. Around them, there’s a growing layer of visual and tactile elements. Handmade objects, posters, small printed pieces. Reading expands into something you experience, not just something you do.
The theme, “With books for freedom,” sets a clear direction. It frames reading as something active and relevant, not passive. It also brings together publishers, bookstores, and readers in a way that feels more like a shared space than a formal event.
A new addition stands out this year. The youth area, “Read, Think, Check,” is designed specifically for teenagers. The idea is simple: make reading feel current. Less distance, more interaction. Literature mixed with play, discussion, and creative formats.
The program builds on that same idea. There will be book sales, talks, and activities for children, but also a broader cultural layer that keeps everything connected. It’s not segmented. It flows.
Behind the fair is the Georgian Book Association, a relatively new organization that already brings together 28 publishers and bookstores. Its role is becoming more visible, shaping how books are presented and experienced in Georgia.
What’s changing here is the perception of reading itself. It’s moving out of a quiet, private space and into a more social, visible one. Books are no longer just content. They’re part of a wider cultural landscape.
For a few days, the fair turns into exactly that kind of space. Not just a place to buy books, but a place to be around them.