Berlin Book Festival

Bebelplatz – Berlin Book History

Bebelplatz in the historic center of Berlin (Unter den Linden, Mitte district) is an architecturally cohesive ensemble between the State Opera, Humboldt University, the Old Library, and St. Hedwig's Cathedral. It is famous as the site of the book burning on May 10, 1933, which is commemorated by the underground memorial 'Sunken Library' (Micha Ullman, 1995): a white shelving system embedded in the ground, visible through a glass pane.

Books Back on Bebelplatz

Precisely at this historic location, the Berlin Book Festival invites publishers and booksellers every June to present their current programs. This makes the festival more than just a commercial book sale: it is a conscious political and cultural gesture to bring books and reading back to the very square where they were once burned.

Format

Around 100 publishing and bookselling stands are spread across the square over the weekend. The offering is complemented by readings from prominent authors, presentations of young voices, curated 'Cluster Talks' (in which several authors discuss a topic from different perspectives – often urban life, global wealth distribution, smartphone culture, climate, democracy), a children's program with reading, crafting, and interactive activities, as well as food stalls.

Organizer

The organizer is the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels – Landesverband Berlin-Brandenburg e.V., the trade association for German publishers and booksellers. This institutional anchoring ensures a high program standard and a balanced mix of large publishers, medium-sized houses, and independent bookstores.