People throng stalls on the closing day of the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair, in Kolkata, on February 3, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Kolkata Book Fair of 2026, which ended on Tuesday (February 3, 2026), recorded the highest footfall and sales in its 49 years, with social media remaining packed with passionate posts about this annual event that is next only to Durga Puja in terms of popularity.
According to the Publishers & Booksellers Guild, which organises the book fair, the 13-day event, from January 22 to February 3, attracted 32 lakh visitors and recorded total sales of ₹27 crore. Last year, the number of visitors stood at 27 lakh.
“The unprecedented footfall was due to the both-way metro connectivity and six holidays (including weekends) marking the duration of the fair. We are now gearing up for the golden jubilee celebration of the International Kolkata Book Fair with some unique events which will be remembered in future,” Tridib Chatterjee, general secretary of the Publishers & Booksellers Guild, told The Hindu.
Many regular visitors posted emotional pictures on social media on the closing day, and numerous others shared images of their presence in book launches and discussions and them posing with authors.
“When I was a child, my parents would take me to the book fair at Maidan. In the view of a three to four feet child, the world of books seemed grand and beyond reach. But now, as a grownup, an avid reader and a little collector, my interests have found new avenues. This book fair was more organised, where even a small publishing house could leave its footprint. I came across several young authors and poets who are otherwise ordinary people like you and me,” said Shreya C. Mukherjee, who presently lives in Hyderabad and is visiting Kolkata at the moment.
“The interesting thing was just how many children were getting lost and were being guided back to their parents by a battery of police personnel. I figure this was one of those fairs where kids and parents alike were enticed by books and forgot each other,” Ms. Mukherjee added.
According to Kanchan Mitra, who volunteered at the Yogoda Satsangha Society of India book stall, the increased footfall this year is not just a figure but was very much visible. “Unlike previous years when afternoons tended to be quieter, this time the flow of visitors felt continuous from morning till late evening. There were hardly any lean hours. A big reason, I believe, was connectivity. The newly operational Green Line Metro seems to have made access much easier for people across the city. The metro ran at higher frequency and for extended hours, which clearly helped accommodate the large crowds. Convenience makes a big difference, and it showed,” Mr. Mitra said.
“What truly encouraged me was the presence of younger visitors. We saw many young people at the YSS stall, curious and genuinely interested in spiritual literature. Several of them were already familiar with classic works like Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. While the book fair in Kolkata is often associated with Bengali readers, this year I observed a significant number of Hindi-speaking visitors as well. The fair felt more pan-Indian in spirit than ever before. What, therefore, stood out this year was not just the scale, but the energy, inclusiveness, and sustained enthusiasm throughout the day,” said Mr. Mitra.
This being Kolkata, even dollops of praise always come with a sprinkling of criticism. Ayan Dutta, an engineer by qualification but a literary editor by profession, wished his friends “Shubho Bijoya” on Facebook—something that Bengalis wish one another once Durga Puja comes to an end. His message was evident: that an event no less important than Durga Puja had come to an end. But he also had his share of complaints.
“Gate 1 and 2 were used mainly for food stalls — that should not have been the case. Also, they should ban the use of mikes for singing and quizzing and other noise-generating events at the book fair venue. Loud sound does not go with browsing. Also this year, the Little Magazine stall was disappointing to me — I could not find much that was new. But on the plus side, Dey’s Publishing paid a tribute to old Bengali publications that were big names in the 1970’s and 80’s by displaying pictures of their one-time heads, such as D.K. Gupta of Signet Press. There was cleanliness all around. A book fair map was easily available too,” Mr. Dutta said.
Published – February 05, 2026 05:08 am IST
