AdminMalaysia’s largest trilingual book exposition is returning in grand fashion as BookFest @ Malaysia celebrates its 20th anniversary with an expanded showcase of literature, culture and lifestyle offerings.
Organised by POPULAR Holdings, the nine-day literary festival will take place from March 18 to 26, 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, occupying Halls 1 to 5 on the ground floor. The event adopts the anniversary theme “Read 20, Rise Beyond”, highlighting two decades of promoting reading culture and intellectual growth among Malaysians.
Recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the country’s largest trilingual book exposition, the event is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors ranging from students and educators to avid readers and families seeking an immersive literary experience.
Expansive showcase of books, culture and lifestyle
Spanning more than 100,000 square feet of exhibition space, the event will host over 530 booths featuring publishers, booksellers and educational distributors from across ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and North America.
The fair is divided into specialised zones designed to cater to diverse reading communities. Halls 1 and 2 will focus largely on Chinese publications, educational materials and intellectual property merchandise, alongside media products and collectibles.
Halls 4 and 5 will showcase a broad selection of English and Malay titles, as well as stationery, technology gadgets and lifestyle products. The popular “Titbits Galore” section will also return, offering international snacks that have become a staple attraction for visitors.
Beyond book retail, the festival has evolved into a cultural marketplace. Daily activities will include author meet-and-greets, interactive workshops, themed exhibitions and anniversary promotions designed to engage readers across different age groups.
With extended opening hours from 10am to 10pm daily, organisers aim to create an accessible event where visitors can explore books, discover new authors and participate in creative activities throughout the nine-day programme.
Hong Kong Pavilion makes landmark debut
A major highlight of the 2026 edition is the debut of the “Soaring Creativity – O2O Hong Kong Pavilion”, co-organised by the Hong Kong Publishing Federation and the The Hong Kong Printers Association.
Operating under the theme “Golden Legacy, Timeless Ink: A Tribute to Hong Kong Culture”, the pavilion is designed to recreate the ambience of Hong Kong’s iconic streets. Visitors will encounter stylised recreations of districts such as Central and Kowloon, complete with neon signage, nostalgic bookshops, pawnshop settings and traditional café seating reminiscent of classic Hong Kong eateries.
The pavilion will showcase nearly 650 notable printing and publishing works while offering up to 800 different Hong Kong book titles for sale at discounted prices, covering genres such as popular literature, children’s books and historical publications.
A special exhibition titled “From Page to Screen: Scripting the Hong Kong Legend” will explore how literary works by celebrated authors including Jin Yong, Ni Kuang, Eileen Chang and Lilian Lee were adapted into iconic films.
The pavilion will also host master talks, pop-culture sharing sessions and creative workshops, alongside family-friendly activities such as papercraft sessions featuring panda ornaments.
With affordable entry tickets and a season pass option for unlimited visits, the 20th anniversary edition of BookFest @ Malaysia is expected to reaffirm its position as one of the country’s most anticipated annual literary gatherings, bringing together books, culture and community under one roof.
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