“Rights Then. Rights Now”: 40 years Frankfurt Rights Meeting
Frankfurt Rights Meeting 1990
© Frankfurter Buchmesse
Celebrating the anniversary of the leading conference for international rights trade in publishing / Tickets go on sale at a special price / Focus on AI, children’s and YA books, French- and English-language markets
Frankfurt, 8 June 2026 – This year, the leading conference for rights and licensing in international publishing celebrates its 40th anniversary. Under the motto “Rights Then. Rights Now”, decision-makers from the rights and licensing sector will meet online from September onwards, as well as at Frankfurter Buchmesse (7–11 October). The first rights conference took place at Frankfurter Buchmesse in 1987 – back then under the name “International Rights Directors Meeting”. Rights experts from 26 countries attended the inaugural event. In 1988, the German trade magazine Börsenblatt described the conference in its early years as a “Small United Nations of Rights Directors”. Now in its 40th year, the conference remains the most important conference for rights and licensing professionals from around the world.
Juergen Boos, Director of Frankfurter Buchmesse, says: “Frankfurter Buchmesse is the central marketplace where publishers from all over the world trade rights and licences. Different markets, different legal frameworks, different expectations – working in the rights business means navigating a complex environment. For 40 years, the Frankfurt Rights Meeting has brought together the leading minds of the international rights community. The fact that this conference remains relevant even after four decades shows that sharing expertise and meeting in person are an essential part of our industry.”
Rights consultant and member of the conference’s advisory board Lynette Owen, who has attended the Frankfurt Rights Meeting for four decades, says: “Over the years the meeting has addressed a wide range of topics: from developing areas of licensing to sessions focussing on particular rights markets. What I hear from attendees indicates that there is a continuing need to cover up-to-date rights issues. In addition to the online sessions, the in-person event at the fair provides a welcome opportunity to catch up with rights colleagues in person, as well as make new contacts.”
Tickets are on sale now at a special price
The online ticket shop is now open. To mark the anniversary, tickets are available at a special price, starting at 24 euros (excl. VAT). To the ticket shop: https://www.buchmesse.de/en/rights-licenses/frankfurt-rights-meeting(opens in a new window)
Topics and trends: from AI to selling rights into English-language markets
Starting on 1 September 2026, four digital sessions will focus on current topics and trends. Experts will discuss artificial intelligence in rights trading, selling rights into French-language markets and the developments and challenges in the rights business for children’s and young adult media. The session “Breaking the 3%” will address selling rights into English-language markets and how the number of translated titles in these markets might be increased. At the networking reception on Tuesday, 6 October 2026 at Frankfurter Buchmesse, the international rights community will come together in Frankfurt. In keeping with the conference motto “Rights Then. Rights Now”, four generations of rights and licensing experts will share their experiences and look ahead to the future of the rights and licensing business. Among the speakers is Lynette Owen, rights consultant and author of “Selling Rights”. Further speakers will be announced soon.
More information about the conference programme: https://www.buchmesse.de/en/rights-licenses/frankfurt-rights-meeting(opens in a new window)