After weeks of speculation and concerns regarding the month of Ramadan, the schedule for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 has been finalized. The fair is now set to begin on February 25 and will continue until March 15.
The announcement came following a high-level meeting at the Bangla Academy auditorium on Wednesday evening. Nitai Roy Chowdhury, the newly appointed Minister for Cultural Affairs, shared the decision after consulting with publishers and fair organizers.
Major Incentives for Publishers
In a significant move to support the publishing industry, Nitai Roy Chowdhury announced a 100 percent waiver of stall rent for all participating institutions. This decision aims to encourage wider participation, especially from smaller and new publishing houses, amidst the economic challenges facing the sector.
The meeting was also attended by:
- Ali Newaz Mahmud Khyom, State Minister for Cultural Affairs
- Md Mofidur Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs
- Professor Mohammad Azam, Director General of Bangla Academy
Rescheduling and Logistics
The fair was originally proposed to start on February 20, but the date was pushed back by five days to better accommodate the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and address the publishers’ concerns regarding footfall and sales.
According to a press release from Bangla Academy, publishers who have not yet applied for stall allocation can do so until 3:00 PM on Thursday. A lottery to allocate these stalls will be held at 6:00 PM on the same day. Those who have already submitted their applications do not need to reapply.
