Leipzig Book Fair opens with Guest of Honour Norway

Leipzig (dpa) – The Leipzig Book Fair with Norway as Guest of Honour will open this evening under the motto “Words move Worlds”. Running from 27 to 30 March, it is expected to attract 280,000 visitors. At the opening ceremony, Belarusian author Alhierd Bacharevič will be honoured with the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding. Bacharevič's masterpiece Europe's Dogs is banned in Belarus. 

This year’s guest country is Norway. Crown Princess Mette-Marit had to cancel her attendance due to illness, however. Actively committed to promoting Norwegian literature, she has been its official ambassador since 2017. 283,000 people attended the trade fair and the festival Leipzig reads in 2024.