The London Book Fair’s final chapter at Olympia comes to a close with a successful 2026 edition

LONDON, 12 March 2026: The London Book Fair, the largest spring gathering of the international books industry, welcomed publishing professionals from across the globe back to Olympia today for the final day of programming and its final chapter at Olympia. The third day brought together authors, academic publishers, industry leaders and aspiring publishing professionals for discussions on the future of the industry. This year’s Fair welcomed 1,005 exhibitors and over 33,000 visitors.The International Rights Centre saw many an exciting deal take place, including deals for books by the likes of Idris Elba, Mike Gayle, and Mishal Husain, among others [see details below].Emma Lowe, Director of The London Book Fair, said: “The final day of The London Book Fair has been a wonderful celebration of the people and ideas that will shape the future of publishing. From conversations about building sustainable research systems to inspiring sessions with authors and industry leaders, today’s programme highlighted the importance of nurturing the next generation of publishing professionals. Events focused on careers in publishing and initiatives connecting students with industry volunteers reflect the Fair’s commitment to supporting those looking to enter the sector and culminated in the Trailblazer Awards. It’s been an incredibly successful few days here at Olympia and we’re proud to have brought together the global publishing community once again. Today is also a bittersweet occasion as we’re also saying goodbye, which has been a wonderful venue for many years. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the next chapter of the Fair.”

From left to right: Rt Hon Ian Murray MP; AF Steadman, Author of the Day; Jill Luber, CTO Elsevier – Academic Conference

Highlights from Day Three of The London Book Fair (Thurs 12 March): Academic publishing took centre stage as Monica Westin from Cambridge University Press explored developments in scholarly publishing and research communication, highlighting the evolving role of academic publishers in supporting global research communities and ensuring the sustainability of scholarly knowledge.On the Main Stage, a keynote session on “Designing a Sustainable Research System” with Jill Luber, Chief Technology Officer of Elsevier brought together industry experts to examine how publishers, institutions and policymakers can work together to create more resilient and sustainable models for academic research and dissemination. Author A.F. Steadman, creator of the bestselling Skandar series, appeared alongside Minister of State for Media, Tourism and the Creative Industries, The Rt Hon Ian Murray in conversation with Hannah Bull from The Alligator’s Mouth bookshop. The two discussed storytelling, creativity and the role of books within the UK’s wider creative industries. At Author HQ, sessions included a conversation exploring the world of non-fiction publishing, which offered insight into how nonfiction writers shape ideas and influence public debate, a discussion around protecting Authors Rights in the age of AI entitled “Mission Impossible? Protecting Authors Rights in the age of AI”, and “Publishing Pathways”, which explored the numerous routes authors can take to publication. A Main Stage panel, “Trailblazers: How to Get into Publishing”, brought together industry professionals to share advice with aspiring publishers and highlight the many pathways into the industry, offering practical guidance for students and early career professionals, featuring the winners of the Trailblazer Awards 2026.The National Literacy Trust hosted a special event connecting publishing volunteers with students interested in careers in publishing, giving young people the opportunity to learn directly from industry professionals and explore the many roles available across the sector.