New Helsinki Book Fair on the web -event in the fall, Helsinki Book Fair 2020 rescheduled to fall 2021
This fall you can get acquainted with the book year 2020 at the new Helsinki Book Fair on the Web event 23-25 October 2020. Helsinki Book Fair and concurrently arranged Wine and Food Fair 2020 are rescheduled to 28-31 October 2021 at Messukeskus. The literature event, with an exceptionally large attendance requiring extensive and long-term work, is not possible to organize during this exceptional fall in such a way that the Book Fair is perceived.
Helsinki Book Fair and Wine and Food Fair is Messukeskus’ largest event regarding attendance. Last year the event had 92 000 visitors. The number of visitors is much higher than at other events at Messukeskus. Organizing 1000 performers and 800 programs brings challenges of their own and much work beforehand. The event entity is strongly based on meetings and social relations. The uncertainty now casts a shadow over the event. Messukeskus is prepared for the fall events with extensive special measures, but they would change and restrict Helsinki Book Fair too much.
The decision was made in the Helsinki Book Fair development team by Messukeskus together with operators within the book industry as well as by the Finnish Book Publishers Association and The Booksellers’ Association of Finland, partners of the Helsinki Book Fair.
The book market is strongly committed to the Helsinki Book Fair
The representatives of the business Sakari Laiho from The Publishers Association and Laura Karlsson from The Booksellers’ Association say that Helsinki Book Fair is an important event for the book market, but it also requires large resources. It now looks like the strengths of the Book Fair, large amounts of visitors and close atmosphere, turn against it. Now we want to take care of customers, authors and staff. The partners excitedly look forward to the 2020 web fair and already to Helsinki Book Fair 2021, when we again can meet face to face.
Helsinki Book Fair on the Web compiles the book year 2020
”We are sorry that we have to reschedule the most expected book event of the fall. This fall we were supposed to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the Book Fair, but now we reschedule the celebration to next year when we really have a reason to celebrate after an exceptional year,” says Salesgroup Manager at Messukeskus Tanja Pasila responsible for the event. “This year we want to offer the book year 2020, authors and readers, a forum where new books and current issues are highlighted. This year the magnificent book year presents itself at a unique web fair. We are currently planning the fair and thinking about different implementations. The exceptional year allows for new openings. I believe that the web fair will support the commerce of next year’s Book Fair.”
The program plays an important part in a fair organized on the web. Helsinki Book Fair Program Director Ronja Salmi has already taken action. “This year we received over 1 400 program suggestions from which we this spring have produced a program for the 15 stages of the book fair. The work has not been in vain since we are able to carry out the event program through the web fair. We compile a program on the web fair which covers different genres of literature, big stars, new titles and social debates. The theme this year is the future. We will inform about new openings when we are nearer to the event. The entire program will be published 23 September. This past spring has pushed many towards literature and I believe that this interest will last until fall and forward”.
Helsinki Book Fair exhibition exhibitor participation is automatically rescheduled to 2021. For visitors who have purchased tickets we will automatically send a full time ticket for the web fair. You can also exchange the ticket and use it at Helsinki Book Fair 2021 or at any other event organized by Messukeskus either this year or during 2021.
Messukeskus plans the safe opening of the exhibition season
Messukeskus continues preparations of events for the fall season and plans a safe opening of the exhibition season by following authorities’ restrictions and recommendations. The event season starts in August for events organized by Messukeskus.
Messukeskus plans the safety of events carefully. We examine small details as well as event area layouts, from hand hygiene and face mask preparedness to renewing hall and conference area measurements and offering special time slots for risk groups. Read more about preparations for the event fall at Messukeskus: www.messukeskus.com/korona.
Finland’s largest book market event and significant cultural forum
Messukeskus organizes Helsinki Book Fair annually in co-operation with Finnish Book Publishers Association and The Booksellers’ Association of Finland. In connection with Helsinki Book Fair the Second-Hand Book Fair, Record Fair and Stamp Fair are arranged together with the Second-Hand Book Shop Association. Helsinki Book Fair will be arranged next time 28-31 October 2021 at Messukeskus Helsinki. Wine & Food Fair will be arranged simultaneously.
More information about Helsinki Book Fair:
Information Officer Teija Armanto, Messukeskus, tel. +358 50 376 0804, teija.armanto@messukeskus.com
Salesgroup Manager Tanja Pasila, Messukeskus, tel. +358 50 387 0024, tanja.pasila@messukeskus.com
Program Director Ronja Salmi, tel. +358 40 750 1019, ronja@ryovari.fi
Director Sakari Laiho, Finnish Book Publishers Association, tel. +358 040 579 8868, sakari.laiho@kustantajat.fi
Managing Director Laura Karlsson, The Booksellers’ Association of Finland, tel. +358 50 571 5511, laura.karlsson@kirjakauppaliitto.fi
Wine and Food Fair: Information Officer Antti Karjunen, Messukeskus, tel. +358 50 574 3444,antti.karjunen@messukeskus.com
www.helsinginkirjamessut.fi #helsinginkirjamessut @helsinginkirjamessut
Photos of Helsinki Book Fair and Wine and Food Fair http://mediabank.messukeskus.com
