US out but Ukraine in for the first time at 49th Kol book fair
Times of India | 18 January 2026
Kolkata: After Bangladesh, USA will also not participate in the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF), starting from Jan 22 at Salt Lake Central Park fairground.
For the first time since 2006 — the year when USA had started taking part in the event— the country will skip it this year. The book fair this year will, however, have Ukraine as a first-time participant. Officials of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the organisers of the book fair, said the event would have around 20 participant countries, including Australia, which did not participate last year. Germany, the UK, France, Nepal, Peru, are among the other countries that will participate. Argentina, for the first time, will be the focal theme country at IKBF 2026.
The officials said the US consulate had sent a letter to the Guild a few weeks back, regretting that they were not able to participate due to non-allocation of budget. "The US consulate informed us some time back that they were not able to participate in this year's IKBF, stating that their budget was not permitting. They expressed that they would keep in touch and hoped to renew their ties with us in the future," said the guild's general secretary, Tridib Chatterjee.
When the book fair had resumed after a year's gap in 2022 due to Covid outbreak, Ukraine was the centre of discussion due to its conflict with Russia. "We are happy that Ukraine is participating in IKBF for the first time. Book lovers will get a first-hand experience of Ukrainian art and literature at the book fair," said a Guild official.
Guild officials said the USA's non-participation in this year's IKBF came as a big disappointment, as the country participated until last year in a big way by sending large delegations and cultural teams.
"The USA had always participated in a big way along with being the focal theme country of the book fair in 2011. Talks were on as they were showing keen interest to be the focal theme country for IKBF in 2027. However, looking at the present situation, the entire matter now has become uncertain," said a guild official. Bangladesh, another regular participant until 2024, will also be missing from the IKBF for the second year in a row.