CEO talks, masterclasses and trends from AI to webtoons: The trade programme at Frankfurter Buchmesse
Key topic: artificial intelligence | Connecting with the film and games industries | Diversity in publishing | Audiobook market | Focus on comics, webtoons and manga
Frankfurt am Main, 16 September 2025 – Decision makers and experts from the international publishing industry will come together at Frankfurter Buchmesse (15–19 October 2025) to discuss the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in the industry. Conferences, expert talks, workshops, and networking events – trade visitors can look forward to an extensive and diverse programme at the 77th book fair.
All events can be found in the online Calendar of Events at https://www.buchmesse.de/events and in the Frankfurter Buchmesse app. Both will be updated regularly prior to the fair.
CEOs in conversation: What drives the industry’s decision makers?
Núria Cabutí, CEO of Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, and Chantal Restivo-Alessi, CEO International Foreign Language and Chief Digital Officer at HarperCollins, will share their thoughts on the transformation of the global book trade at the CEO Talk on Wednesday (15 October 2025, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, Frankfurt International Stage, Foyer Hall 5.1/6.1). The expert discussion is being organised in cooperation with Digital Publishing Report and will be moderated by publishing consultant Rüdiger Wischenbart.
From Wednesday to Friday, the Publishing Perspectives Executive Talks will allow decision-makers from the international publishing industry to present their viewpoints and insights. Perminder Mann, CEO of Simon & Schuster UK and International, Véronique Cardi, CEO of Editions JC Lattès, and Christian Schumacher-Gebler, Managing Director and CEO of Bonnier Media Germany, will speak with Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of the international trade magazine Publishing Perspectives, about the developments they are observing in the industry and the topics they are currently dealing with. The talks will take place in the Frankfurt Studio (Saal Europa Hall 4.0, Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm; Thursday, 16 October 2025, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm; Friday, 17 October 2025, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm).
Artificial intelligence in publishing
What opportunities and challenges does AI offer for the publishing and media landscape? On Thursday, 16 October 2025, the professional programme will put a spotlight on the topic of artificial intelligence.
Events (selected):
The Hof live – AI and the Battle for Reality
With Davar Ardalan (Founder and CEO, IVOW AI), Richard Socher (Founder and CEO, you.com), Melissa Fleming (Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, UN)
Thursday, 16 October 2025, 12:00 pm–12:50 pm, Centre Stage
Trust in Science and News: Navigating in the Age of AI
Thursday, 16 October 2025, 1:30–2:00 pm, Innovation Stage
Publishing in the Time of AI
With Nadim Sadek (Shimmr AI) and others
Thursday, 16 October 2025, 2:00–3:00 pm, Asia Stage
Using AI to Unlock Your Catalogue’s Potential
With Lee Jarit (Global Head of Publisher and Partner Relations, Audible), Sadaf Kazmi (Head of Creator and International Products, Audible)
Thursday, 16 October 2025, 2:00–2:25 pm, Frankfurt Studio
From Attention to Action: AI in Publishing Marketing
Thursday, 16 October 2025, 2:30–3:00 pm, Frankfurt Studio
Licensing Accelerates Responsible AI: Seizing Opportunities in Uncertain Times
Thursday, 16 October 2025, 3:00–4:00 pm, Frankfurt Studio
Navigating the New Frontier: Content Discovery and Distribution in an AI Worl
Thursday, 16 October 2025, 4:00–4:30 pm, Frankfurt Studio
Breaking the Glass Ceiling: For more diversity in the publishing industry
Raising awareness of diversity and the role of women in the book industry is the focus of numerous events at this year’s book fair. In addition to greater visibility, the discussions will address how systems can be redesigned and leadership roles rethought.
The international network PublisHer will be present at the book fair for the first time with its own stand (4.1 C28) and stage programme. The stand’s lounge will allow visitors to network, and mentoring sessions will be offered in addition to talks on the topic of female empowerment and gender equality in the publishing industry.
Events (selected):
The Invisible Women of Publishing
Organised by PublisHer
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 1:00–2:00 pm, Centre Stage
For All Women and Girls: Words, Freedom, Books of Their Own
Organised by the United Nations Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 2:00–3:00 pm, Centre Stage
Beyond Diversity: Entering the Belonging & Inclusion Era
Organised by Elsevier, the International Publishers Association and United Nations Publications
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 3:00–4:00 pm, Centre Stage
Beyond Tokenism: Women in Executive Leadership
With Nitasha Devasar, Melissa Fleming, Gvantsa Jobava and Andrea Pasion-Flores
Thursday, 16 October 2025, 10:00–11 am, PublisHer Lounge (4.1 C28)
Feisty Women in Arts and Media
With Patricia Evangelista, Mina Esguerra and Tanya Yuson
Sunday, 19 October 2025, 11:30 am–12:30 pm, Guest of Honour Pavilion (Forum, Level 1)
Frankfurt Audio: Industry talks from AI to streaming – with Audible, Spotify and others
The who’s who of international audio publishing will gather at Frankfurt Studio on the Wednesday and Thursday of the fair (15 October 2025, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, and 16 October 2025, 1:00 – 2:00 pm). CEOs and experts from Audible, Spotify, BookBeat, Bookwire and Zebralution will provide insights and discuss current audiobook trends, growth markets and possibilities for using AI in audio. Speakers will include Duncan Bruce (Director of Audiobook Partnerships and Licensing, Spotify), Barbara Knabe (Head of Content Acquisition EU, Audible), Dr Anke Susanne Hoffmann (Director of Strategy & Digital Management Audio, Penguin Random House), Niclas Sandin (CEO, BookBeat) and Ralf Biesemeier (Managing Director Publishing, Zebralution).
These and other players from the audiobook sector will also be present across 730 sqm in the expanded Frankfurt Audio Area in Hall 3.1 (2024: 640 sqm). As this year’s Frankfurter Buchmesse Audio Ambassador, Ama Dadson (Founder and CEO, AkooBooks) will be bringing together interested parties with audio companies in the area. More information: www.buchmesse.de/audio/en
For anyone who wants to gain insights into the dynamic, AI-driven transformation of the audiobook market, the free white paper, published on 8 September 2025, by audio expert Javier Celaya (Dosdoce.com) and Frankfurter Buchmesse offers an analysis of the current challenges and opportunities in the audiobook market: https://www.buchmesse.de/en/whitepaper
Events (selected):
Spotify Audiobooks: The Latest Chapter
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 12:00 pm–12:30 pm, Frankfurt Studio
AI and Audio
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 12:30–1:00 pm, Frankfurt Studio
Tuning into the EU – Trends and Opportunities for Publishers in Audio
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 1:00–1:25 pm, Frankfurt Studio
What Audiobook Listeners Want 2025: A Data Deep Dive into Trending Authors, Books, and Categories across Europe
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 1:30–1:50 pm, Frankfurt Studio
Presentation of the Bookwire Whitepaper: Young and New Adult in Audio
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 2:00–2:30 pm, Frankfurt Studio
The Bag of Gold? Audio Dramas in the Age of Audio Streaming
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 2:30–3:00 pm, Frankfurt Studio
Publishing Perspectives Forum: Expanding the Way We Think About Audio
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 3:00–4:00 pm, Frankfurt Studio
Book-to-Screen Day 2025 with Claire Lundberg, Luiz Fernando Carvalho and others
On Friday, 17 October 2025, Frankfurter Buchmesse will once again host Book-to-Screen Day. Filmmakers will have the opportunity to discover new stories, characters and original ideas from the international book industry. With its masterclasses, matchmaking events, networking opportunities, presentations and discussions, the book fair will provide a platform for exchange between the publishing and audio-visual industries.
This year, Book-to-Screen Day will take place in Hall 5.1 (rooms: Arrival and Relation) and in the Frankfurt Studio Pop-up. It will kick off at 9:00 am with an exclusive guided tour for international filmmakers. The Book-to-Screen Masterclass will take place at 10:00 am in cooperation with the Berlinale Co-Production Market. Claire Lundberg, owner and managing director of CTL Scouting, will talk to Erin Cox, publisher of Publishing Perspectives, offering a glimpse behind the scenes at her international agency, which specialises in finding literary material for the development of feature films and series. At 11:00 am the spotlight event (in cooperation with the Brazilian Consulate General) “‘The Passion According to G.H.’ by Clarice Lispector” offers a discussion with Britta Egetemeier (Penguin Random House Publishing Group) and director Luiz Fernando Carvalho from Brazil. From 3:00 to 5:00 pm publishing, film and games professionals are welcome at the Open Book-to-Screen Lounge (room Relation); registration is not required. Further events and information at https://www.buchmesse.de/en/rights-licenses/book-screen.
Frankfurt Rights Meeting 2025 and the fully booked Literary Agents & Scouts Centre
The importance of the Frankfurter Buchmesee for the international rights business is reflected in the registration figures for the 2025 Literary Agents & Scouts Centre (LitAg), where all 540 tables have already been booked. The neighbouring Publishers Rights Centre (PRC) provides rights and license managers from publishing houses with a venue for holding meetings and doing business.
The Frankfurt Rights Meeting is the central industry event for the international rights and licensing business. Starting in September, online sessions will allow rights and licensing professionals to gain exclusive insights into current industry topics. In 2025, the focus will be on Spanish-speaking markets, artificial intelligence, merchandising and digital licensing, among other developments. Registration is still open for the session on 23 September on “Digital Licensing: Sales or Rights?” (https://www.buchmesse.de/en/rights-licenses/frankfurt-rights-meeting#51607). The series will conclude on Tuesday, 14 October, with a keynote and networking reception on the fairgrounds. The keynote address will be given by Keith Bennie, Vice-President of Public Programming at the Toronto International Film Festival, providing attendees with a look at opportunities beyond the book industry. Registration is possible until the day before: https://www.buchmesse.de/en/rights-licenses/frankfurt-rights-meeting#54802.
Global creative markets united: Games and publishing
What interfaces exist between the book and the games industries to facilitate potential licensing deals? At the Games Business Centre (Hall 6.1), publishers, games developers and storytellers will be brought together at curated networking sessions. The sessions will take place in collaboration with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
Comics Business Centre with new Webtoon Area
Comics, manga and webtoons are booming – also in the licensing business. At the Comics Business Centre (Hall 6.1 A62), international publishers and agencies will be presenting their programmes and negotiating rights, from book series to digital stories for smartphones. New this year will be a separate area for exhibitors specialising in webtoons – comics that are read exclusively on smartphones and characterised by their vertical scrolling style. This year’s Guest of Honour, the Philippines, will have its own stand to present the lively Philippine comics scene. Trade visitors can expect networking events, a guided tour followed by a happy hour, and panels on the Frankfurt International Stage discussing the rights business. The programme also includes virtual pitching sessions and talks prior to the fair.
Events (selected):
Comics: The Gamechanger through the Years
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 11:30 am–12:30 pm, Guest of Honour Pavilion: Arena stage
Meet the Expert: with Webtoon Ambassador Sébastien Célimon
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 11:00–11:55 am, Frankfurt Studio Pop-Up
Guided Comics Tour & Happy Hour for Trade Visitors
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 3:00–4:45 pm, from Hall 3.0 to the Comics Business Centre
From Screen to Paper to Screen – Webtoons and IP Opportunities
Thursday, 16 October 2025, 10:00–11:00 am, Frankfurt International Stage
Cartooning the Politics of Everyday
Friday,17 October, 11:30 am–12:30 pm, Guest of Honour Pavilion, Arena
Frankfurt Kids Conference: “Children’s Books in a Fragile World”
Renowned illustrator Axel Scheffler (The Gruffalo) will deliver the keynote at the Frankfurt Kids Conference on Wednesday, 15 October 2025 (4:00–6:30 pm, Centre Stage). This year’s conference will be dedicated to the topic “Children’s Books in a Fragile World”. International experts such as Jon Yaged, CEO of Macmillan Publishers, and Ukrainian author, translator and editor Kateryna Mikhalitsyna will discuss the industry’s responsibilities and the challenges it faces – from literacy promotion to political attacks on children’s literature. Author and translator Lawrence Schimel will serve as moderator for the event. The conference offers publishing professionals, educators and industry representatives a forum for exchange, orientation and networking. A networking reception will round out the programme. Admission with trade visitor or exhibitor ticket. More information: https://www.buchmesse.de/en/highlights/professional-programme/special-topics/frankfurt-kids
Asia Stage: spotlight on Asian book markets
The Asia Stage (Hall 5.1 A75) will host a series of talks on Asia’s book markets. Experts, authors and journalists from the region will discuss a range of topics: What have been the latest developments in academic publishing in Asia? What trends are emerging in children's book markets from Bangkok to Manila? How are cross-media formats reaching new target groups? Is censorship – or self-censorship – a major issue for authors and publishers in Asian countries? If so, how are cultural professionals dealing with the situation? In addition to players from the Asian publishing industry, speakers will include Filipino bestselling author, journalist and documentary filmmaker Patricia Evangelista, journalist Roby Alampay, author Chuckberry J. Pascual and Tanya Yuson, producer of the Netflix series Trese. Events on the Asia Stage can be found here in the Calendar of Events.(opens in a new window)
Innovation Stage: educational and academic publishers
Hall 4.0 is where the world’s academic publishers and providers of business information and educational media will be presenting their programmes and solutions. This year on the new Innovation Stage (Hall 4.0 H106) they will be highlighting a range of future-oriented topics: open access, artificial intelligence and new forms of academic communication. Several conference formats will be organised in cooperation with Frankfurter Buchmesse: the Micro-Conference of the Society for Scholarly Publishing (16 October 2025, 9.00–11.00 am), the Charleston Conference focussing on librarianship (17 October 2025, 9.00–11.00 am) organised in collaboration with the international industry news outlet Publishing Perspectives, and the Friday Innovation Talks powered by Frankfurter Buchmesse, Bookwire and Pondus (17 October 2025, 2.30–5.00 pm). Events on the Innovation Stage can be found here in the Calendar of Events(opens in a new window).
Hall 4.0 is also where international educational publishers will exhibit their language learning offerings, teaching materials and digital learning technologies for children, students and professionals. In addition, it is where the BELMA, Best European Learning Material Award, will be presented on 15 October 2025 (Innovation Stage, Hall 4.0 H106).
Publishing partners: The industry’s service providers
Where there are publishers, service providers are never far away. Publishing partners, with their software solutions, consulting services and digital tools, support publishers and libraries as they transform digitally, among other challenges. At several digital Masterclasses offered the week prior to the book fair, partners will provide insights into topics such as artificial intelligence, e-book and audio production, and digital distribution channels.
At the fair itself, numerous companies will be present on the Innovation Stage (Hall 4.0 H106). On Thursday, a range of service providers will make use of 30-minute slots to discuss their tips and tricks relating to AI, workflows and e-books (16 October 2025, starting at 2:00 pm).
Expert talks for and by translators
From translation as a political act to existential questions about copyright issues raised by the use of AI, to “word acrobatics of a different kind,” i.e. the translation of erotic literature – the topic of translation will be approached in many different ways at the Frankfurter Buchmesse. The Centre of Words (Hall 4.1 F21) will be one of the main venues for these discussions. This is where authors, translators and publishers will be sharing their expertise and perspectives. In addition, the English-language programmes at the Frankfurt International Stage (Hall 5.1/6.1, Foyer) and Asia Stage (5.1 A75) will feature events focusing on the work of translators.
Events (selected):
Translating Marx’s ‘Capital’ in the Twenty-First Century
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 10:30–11:00 am, Centre of Words
Translation Programmes: Do They Work?
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 3:00–4:00 pm, Asia Stage
Spanish Literature in Translation
Friday, 17 October 2025, 12:00 pm, Frankfurt International Stage
Launch of Holzfäller, German translation of the novel Leñador by Mike Wilson (translator: Mario Gomes)
Saturday, 18 October 2025, 5:00 pm, Frankfurt International Stage
Digital events prior to the fair: Masterclasses and “The Hof”
Before the fair begins, the online Masterclasses from 6 to 9 October 2025 will be imparting specialised knowledge on a number of topics – from A (for audio) to S (for software). Participation is free of charge. More information: https://www.buchmesse.de/en/highlights/professional-programme/digital-formats/masterclasses
Just in time for the Frankfurter Buchmesse, the popular online networking event “The Hof” will leave the virtual realm and take place as a live event on the fairgrounds – on Thursday, 16 October 2025, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm on the Centre Stage. Journalist and host of “The Hof”, Felix Zeltner, will be joined by inspiring guests who will discuss the topic of AI. The event will also feature live music. More information: www.buchmesse.de/thehof/en
About Frankfurter Buchmesse
Frankfurter Buchmesse is the international publishing industry’s biggest trade fair and the most important international marketplace for content – from novels and children’s books to academic databases and stories for films, games and virtual reality experiences. Publishing professionals from around the world meet here with partners from the technology sector and from related creative and cultural industries, sparking new partnerships and business models. Since 1976, the book fair has featured an annual Guest of Honour country, which showcases its book market, literature and culture to attendees in a variety of ways. Frankfurter Buchmesse organises the participation of German publishers at international book fairs and hosts trade events throughout the year in major international markets. Frankfurter Buchmesse is a subsidiary of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers & Booksellers Association). buchmesse.de/en(opens in a new window)