BIBF Unveils Stellar Academic & Digital Publishing Line‑Up

Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) - 18–22 June 2025

[Beijing, 6 June]: Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) opens next week, bringing together global publishing leaders, innovators and media on-site for five days of rights trading, conferences and networking. This year’s fair introduces an expanded Academic Digital Publishing Hub, a brand-new STM APAC Conference, and speakers from across the world at PubTech, Children’s, Art and Publishing Innovation forums.

BIBF will welcome 1,700 exhibitors from 80 countries and regions—a 13% increase on last year—with first‑time participants from Bangladesh, Chile, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Kenya, Oman and more.

International conferences at BIBF

Key international conferences and events held during BIBF include:

1. The Beijing International Publishing Forum: 19 June 2025, 09:30–12:00

This year’s forum—guided by a focus on next-generation productivity and expanding global publishing partnerships—will bring together industry leaders to explore how digital breakthroughs and collaborative models can drive sustainable growth and innovation across borders. Sessions will delve into the evolving interplay between technology and publishing, AI’s role in integrated publishing workflows, innovative strategies for content acquisition and editorial processes, creative content generation, and best practices in copyright protection.

Key Speakers: Chang Bo, President of China Publishing Group; Gvantsa Jobava, President of International Publishers Association; Wong Kah Woh, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Education, Malaysia; Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, United Nations; Niels Peter Thomas, President of Global Book Publishing, Springer Nature; Zhang Chaoyang, Chairman of Phoenix Publishing and Media Group; Christie Henry, President of Princeton University Press; Erik Nilsson, Senior Journalist of China Daily; Arnold Bergler, CEO of Peter Lang International Academic Publishing Group.

1. STM APAC conference: Open driven by innovation: 17 June, 09:00 - 13:30

This conference will focus on the development strategies and innovative practices of open science. It will bring together peers from research institutions, academic publishing houses, and libraries worldwide to jointly discuss the creative development of open science in APAC. The conference will provide a platform for international exchange and collaboration, enhancing global academic communication and improving open sharing.

Please see the full conference programme for key speakers: https://stm-assoc.org/events/stm-apac-conference/

1. The PubTech Conference: “Publishing’s Future Empowered by Technology” :

16 June, 13:30-17:00

The PubTech Conference is committed to building an international exchange platform for sharing and dialogue among experts and scholars in the publishing and technology fields, leading publishers, and specialists of cutting-edge new technologies. This year, the conference will focus on current industry concerns such as publishing and integrity driven by technology, corpus construction, and copyright protection.

Please see the full conference programme for key speakers: https://stm-assoc.org/events/stm-apac-conference/

1. 2025 BIBF World Children's Book Forum: 19 June, 14:00-17:30

Themed with “Innovative Paths for Children's Book Publishing under the New Situation”, the forum brings together leading experts and practitioners in publishing media, knowledge services, and reading promotion to explore fresh ideas and directions for the children’s book industry. Through four focused dimensions—policy interpretation, product innovation, marketing innovation, and technology empowerment—speakers will share insights that will help shape the next era of children’s publishing.

Key Speakers: Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications; Feng Shixin, President ofChina Academy of Press and Publication; Adibah Omar, CEO of KL City Book Council, Malaysia; Zhang Mingzhou, Executive Committee Member of IBBY & Chair; Elena Pasoli, Director of Bologna Children’s Book Fair; Tu Zipei, MIT Visiting Researcher & Former VP of Alibaba Group; Rashid Alkous, Executive Director of Emirates Publishers Association; Li Shuangwu, Executive Director & President of Contemporary World Press; Li Hui, Vice Chairman, China South Publishing & Media Group; Lola Shoneyin, Chair of IBBY Nigeria & Board Member, PublisHer; Elias Wondimu, Founder & CEO of Tsehai Publishers; Mercy Kirui, Senior Manager of Mwengo Publishers,.

The 2025 Beijing International Book Fair will feature a strong presence of leading academic and educational publishers from around the world.

In the academic sector, the fair has attracted globally renowned publishers and service providers, including Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, Cengage Learning, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Princeton University Press, SAGE Publishing, and World Scientific Publishing (Singapore). This year also sees the participation of several first-time academic exhibitors, such as Crossref (USA), MPS Limited (India), Pluto Labs (South Korea), Eco-Vector (Russia), Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities (UAE), InterRegional for Strategic Analysis (UAE), and MIPP International (Belarus)—bringing new energy, fresh perspectives, and expanded global dialogue to BIBF’s academic programme.

In the education sector, BIBF continues to welcome some of the world’s most influential education publishers, including Pearson (UK), Kyowon Group (South Korea), and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (USA). These exhibitors will present their latest teaching resources, curriculum solutions, and digital learning technologies to meet the evolving needs of educators and students worldwide. In addition, a number of outstanding education publishers will be making their BIBF debut this year, including Benchmark Education (USA), GOS Education (USA), Bricks Education (South Korea), A*List (South Korea), Hamilton House (Cyprus), and Star Publishing (Singapore)—bringing forward innovative teaching tools, effective language learning strategies, and culturally diverse content for the global education community.

ENDS

For further information please contact Singing Grass Communications

Alicia Liu (UK) alicia@singinggrass.com,

Cassie Lin (China) cassie@singinggrass.com

Notes to Editors:

The Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) has been organized by the China National

Publications Import and Export (Group) Co., Ltd. since 1986. Over the past 39 years, the BIBF has become the second largest book fair in the world, attracting exhibitors and visitors from more than 97 countries.

The BIBF is the largest and most influential international book fair in Asia, serving as a premier event for publishing professionals to conduct business in China while also providing a unique platform for showcasing international culture and content.

In 2024, the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) had over 1,600 exhibitors, including 1,050 international exhibitors from 71 countries and regions. With over 300,000 visitors in attendance over the five-day period, the fair featured over 1,000 cultural events, including mini-exhibitions, lectures, seminars, salons, author appearances, and book launches around Beijing.

https://www.bibf.net/en/