‘What the Book Fair Is All About’: Frankfurt’s Juergen Boos

‘Democratic Discourse and Peaceful Encounters’

With the 77th staging of Frankfurter Buchmesse set for October 15 to 19, the world’s largest trade show for the international book-publishing industry can be expected to reflect the “tenor of the times,” the dynamics of debate in an era of often defensive stances and quick response. Juergen Boos, president and CEO of Frankfurter Buchmesse, and his perspective on this aspect of staging such a complex and influential show.

Publishing Perspectives: Juergen, you hosted a press conference highlighting what we can expect in Frankfurt this fall and you noted that the book fair’s mission is “to connect people—as an international marketplace for rights and licensing; a stage for social debate; and a festival of compelling stories.” When you’re welcoming people from more than 100 countries, some of which are in conflict, how are you able to remain impartial?

Juergen Boos: Our values as the leading book fair are very clear: Frankfurter Buchmesse stands for diversity and democratic values. The fair is committed to freedom of speech and the freedom to publish and has always been a meeting place for peaceful exchange since its very beginnings.

We’re here to offer a platform where the international publishing industry can conduct business and share and discuss ideas in peace and security, also in times of geopolitical conflicts and a tense world situation. We recognize that publishing professionals from more than 100 countries in Frankfurt also bring together many differing experiences, viewpoints, and opinions. But this is what the fair is all about: We offer a platform for dialogue where different voices and viewpoints can come together.

Publishing Perspectives: In almost any walk of life these day—including in publishing—the sheer level of the political dynamic is running high. As you look forward to having these attendees and exhibitors in Frankfurt, are there any concerns about the need for increased security, or have you heard of any pending protests on the fairgrounds?

Juergen Boos: The security of our exhibitors and attendees is a top priority for us. Our team works closely with the Hesse Police, Messe Frankfurt, and its security company to draw up a comprehensive security plan every year to forestall any potential issues and keep visitors safe. Security measures are constantly adapted to the current situation.

Publishing Perspectives: The war in the Middle East has been at the top of the news agenda for more than two years, and it’s understandable that people have strong opinions on the matter. Some have even called for publishers and authors to stay away from the book fair to express those views. What is your opinion on this?

Juergen Boos: Of course, we respect every individual decision but we’re glad to see that every year more than 200,000 exhibitors, authors, and visitors from all over the world choose to come to Frankfurt. We are a book fair: connecting publishers and agents, and authors and readers is what we do. We know that global conflicts can raise strong emotions. But Frankfurter Buchmesse is, and will remain, a safe place where people can meet, do business, and debate respectfully.

Publishing Perspectives: Last year, the book fair rebranded its cultural-political programming as “Frankfurt Calling” to provide a stage for debates on topics of importance for the cultural sector. That returns this year, of course, with the Centre Stage (Hall 4.1) as its prime venue and some of the programming partners being the United Nations, The European and International Booksellers Federation, PEN International, Amnesty International, and more. Of the events in that portion of the program, which do you think might have the most impact?

Juergen Boos: Mmmhh, this is a tricky question. I think we’ll learn about the impact of the program during and after the fair. It’s also difficult for me to pick a single event. However, I can say that I am very proud that together with our numerous cooperation partners we have organized events that really pick up topics that publishing professionals around the world are currently talking about and are also being affected by. Just to name a few: The booksellers Oleksii Erinchak and Mahmoud Muna from Kyiv and Jerusalem will talk about bookselling in times of war. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa will debate with the former Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, about security policy and human rights. And different panels will address topics such as the role of women in publishing and book bans and censorship.

Publishing Perspectives: The Philippines is Frankfurt’s guest of honor country this year. The theme—”The Imagination Peoples the Air”—comes from the famed writer Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, or Touch Me Not. At the time of its publication in the 19th century, Rizal’s work was revolutionary and Rizal was exiled and executed in 1896 by the colonial government. Today, Rizal is revered as a national hero and Philippine literature celebrates identity and independence. How is that revolutionary spirit that Rizal evokes being reflected in the Guest of Honor Philippines programming and pavilion?

Juergen Boos: The Philippines is made up of 7,641 islands and millions of stories showing the unique voices, perspectives, and independence of those islands’ people. But the country also has a difficult history of being colonized by Spain, the United States, and, briefly, Japan. Rizal’s novel stood up to colonial rule—and that spirit of independence continues to shape Philippine literature today. The more than 100 Filipino authors who will be attending this year’s fair will feature writing that ranges in themes from postcolonialism and independence to queer literature to climate fiction, both in prose and in graphic novels and comics, but all highlight the strong, powerful identity and voice from the Philippines.

Publishing Perspectives: Needless to say, several conflicts in the world are particularly high in our daily news cycles—as always—and some people see Frankfurter Buchmesse as a forum for various demands. It’s been the case in the past, of course, that some see the book fair as being representative of Berlin’s positions, a kind of state institution. Is equating the German nation’s policies and the purpose of Frankfurter Buchmesse and its operations correct?

Juergen Boos: No, the book fair is a non-governmental organization in its own right. It is an entity belonging to the German Publishers and Booksellers Association and not a state institution. As a company it operates independently within the legally prescribed framework in Germany.

Publishing Perspectives: And isn’t the exchange and debate among the people of a trade show exactly a part of Frankfurter Buchmesse’s purpose? You’ve told Publishing Perspectives in the past that the book fair “offers a platform for democratic discourse and peaceful encounters between authors, publishers, illustrators, translators, and readers from all over the world.” Is it possible to say that this is where the trade show derives much of its value and impact?

Juergen Boos: The impact comes from the conversations among attendees, panelists, and exhibitors. Frankfurter Buchmesse provides the platform and framework for these exchanges—something increasingly rare in today’s world. As the leading international event for books and media, we take pride in being that meeting place for democratic discourse and peaceful encounters.

The interview was first published in Publishing Perspectives here: https://publishingperspectives.com/2025/10/what-the-book-fair-is-all-about-frankfurts-juergen-boos/(Öffnet neues Fenster)