Sharjah, United Arab Emirates – Sharjah will welcome global publishing industry professionals from 106 countries for the 13th annual Publishers Conference on Sunday, October 29, 2023. The three-day conference is a key component of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) professional program.
Participants from 12 debutant countries, including Benin, Ivory Coast, the Czech Republic, Mauritius, Paraguay, Burkina Faso, Zaire, Malawi, Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, will attend the conference for the first time.
The Publishers Conference has played a significant global role in boosting industry knowledge and interconnectedness, as well as encouraging networking and cultural exchange. Its groundbreaking success in 2021 and 2022 helped SIBF earn the title of the world’s largest publishing event for two consecutive years.
The 13th annual Publishers Conference will feature 42 speakers and experts, including Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA); Núria Cabutí Brull, CEO of Penguin Random House Grupo; Ian Chapman, Chief Executive and Publisher of Simon & Schuster UK and International; and Cheolho Yoon, Chairman of the Korean Publishers Association.
On Day 1, these visionaries will lead the conference’s packed agenda of 31 timely and topical discussions on the evolving landscape of digital publishing, fostering literary diversity and inclusivity, building industry resilience, and embracing innovation.
Days 2 and 3 will feature vibrant business networking and matchmaking sessions where publishers can negotiate buying and selling rights and translation agreements.
The winners of the second edition of the eagerly anticipated Sharjah Rights Connection Awards will be announced at the Publishers Conference. This year’s award received 58 entries from 58 countries, including 42 literary agents and 16 publishers.
On the xx day of the conference, the Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) will also announce the winners of the second edition of the ABC International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing.
The three-day conference will culminate in the 42nd annual SIBF, which opens its doors to the world on November 1, 2023. Under the slogan “We Speak Books,” SIBF promises a remarkable 12-day celebration of books, creativity, arts, and culture.
