Turin book fair opens 38th edition May 14

The Salone Internazionale del Libro opened its 38th edition in Turin on Thursday, May 14, with five days of programming scheduled at Lingotto Fiere through May 18. Organizers describe it as Italy’s largest publishing fair, and the event’s official pages say this year’s edition runs under the theme “Il mondo salvato dai ragazzini.” Italian coverage and event materials put the fair’s scale at 147,000 square meters, more than 500 stands, 1,250 publishing brands and over 2,700 events. (104news.it) (salonelibro.it) The opening program included an inaugural lecture by British writer Zadie Smith, while a separate pre-opening event on May 13 presented the shortlisted candidates for the 2026 Aficionado Award. (salonelibro.it) ### When and where is the fair taking place? The 2026 edition is running from May 14 to May 18 at Lingotto Fiere in Turin, according to the fair’s official site and visitor guide. Opening hours are listed as 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sunday and Monday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Lingotto Fiere is the fair’s main venue, with access points tied to the Lingotto and Italia 61 metro stops, the guide says. The site also directs rail travelers to the Lingotto Fiere station and says visitors can enter the exhibition area through the underpass linked to the station. (salonelibro.it) ### How large is this year’s Turin fair? Italian media coverage published on May 14 said the fair extends across 147,000 square meters at the Lingotto site. The same report said the event includes more than 500 stands, 1,250 publishing imprints and more than 2,700 events over five days. (salonelibro.it) The official Salone pages add detail on the layout and programming. They list the main fair spaces as pavilions 1, 2, 3 and Oval, with additional areas for Bookstock, families and industry professionals, and they say 180 appointments are dedicated to families, including four major shows and readings and 176 workshops. (salonelibro.it) ### Which writers and guests are on the program? Zadie Smith delivered the inaugural lecture on May 14 in Sala Oro, according to the official event page. The fair’s site also lists international guests including Nobel laureate László Krasznahorkai, Emmanuel Carrère, David Grossman, Petros Markaris, Ece Temelkuran, Abraham Verghese, Irvine Welsh and Lea Ypi. (104news.it) Annalena Benini is directing the 2026 edition, Italian publishing outlet Il Libraio reported, calling it her third consecutive year in the role. The same report said Umbria is this year’s guest region and Greece the guest country, each with dedicated programming during the fair. (salonelibro.it) ### What is the theme of the 2026 edition? The 2026 fair is dedicated to “Il mondo salvato dai ragazzini,” a reference to Elsa Morante’s 1968 work, according to organizers and Italian coverage. Il Libraio quoted organizers as saying the title evokes multiplicity and a different way of being together, and the official site names a new section built around that theme. (salonelibro.it) The fair’s official materials also say young readers are a central part of the event through Bookstock and related school-year projects. Family programming is concentrated in dedicated spaces and events across the site, according to the organizers’ pages. (illibraio.it) ### What happened with the Aficionado Award around the opening? On May 13, the evening before the fair’s official opening, the Salone hosted the three shortlisted candidates for the 2026 Aficionado Award, according to Publishing Perspectives and the award page on the fair’s website. The award is organized with financial support from Frankfurter Buchmesse and the Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino. (illibraio.it) The shortlisted candidates were Govind Deecee of DC Books, Samantha Schnee of Words Without Borders and Krzysztof Czyżewski of Pogranicze and the Borderland Foundation, Publishing Perspectives reported. (salonelibro.it) The same report said the winner will be announced before the Frankfurter Buchmesse and the prize will be presented during the Frankfurt fair. ### What comes next in Turin this week? Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16 are the two latest-closing days at the fair, with programming scheduled until 9 p.m., according to the visitor guide. (publishingperspectives.com) The guide also says the Romance Pop Up is set for May 16 and May 17, with dedicated ticket types, events and signing sessions. May 18 is the final day of the 38th edition at Lingotto Fiere, according to the official event pages. Organizers direct visitors to the fair’s online program and ticketing pages for the remaining schedule and access details. (publishingperspectives.com) (salonelibro.it 1) (salonelibro.it 2)