The London Book Fair (LBF) 2025 is a major trade show for the publishing industry, bringing together publishers, agents, authors, printers, and service providers from around the world. It was held at London’s Olympia 11-13th March 2025.

Steve Plackett, managing director of Carousel Calendars gives us an account of the show:

This year’s fair was the busiest I’ve seen in several years. Many exhibitors I spoke with mentioned that the event was particularly beneficial for their export business.

Compared to the Frankfurt Book Fair, LBF is more compact, featuring two main halls with balconies that host additional stands. Its manageable size makes navigation straightforward and efficient.

The fair also hosted numerous insightful talks across various locations, covering topics such as:

• Publishing and Environmental Responsibility
• Ethics of Funding
• Publishing Responsibility in Times of Conflict
• What Do We Do with Contentious Classics?

As expected, books took centre stage, with major global publishers as well as small independent publishers from the UK and around the world in attendance.

There were very few non-book publishers, but it’s a meeting place for our supply base and logistics partners as well as sales agents from around the world.

In addition to publishers, the fair showcased a diverse range of exhibitors, including international printers, distributors, software solution providers, e-commerce platforms, and global logistics companies.

There is also a large International Rights Centre, which served as a key hub for book publishers focusing on rights negotiations and licensing.

The Illustrators gallery enables illustrators and artists to showcase their work to the publishing community.

Overall, the London Book Fair 2025 was a dynamic and valuable event for all participants in the publishing ecosystem.