KIBUM — Oldenburg Children's and Young Adult Book Fair

KIBUM is a unique event in the German book fair landscape. Unlike commercial fairs, KIBUM is purely an exhibition and meeting fair: the approximately 2,500 books on display are not sold but can be read, reviewed, and commented on by children, young people, teachers, parents, and industry professionals. This creates a platform for engaging with current children's and young adult literature beyond commercial logic.

2026 Motto: “Shaping the Future! KIBUM and the world of tomorrow”

The motto raises the question of what visions of the future children's and young adult books create — from climate and sustainability to technology and digitalization, to democracy, diversity, and social cohesion. Books as spaces where the next generation designs the world of tomorrow.

Around 300 Publishers, Approximately 2,500 Books

The exhibition includes the current book production of German-language publishers and selected international titles. Both large corporate publishers and small independent houses are represented, showcasing the diversity of children's and young adult literature.

Genres and Formats

• Picture books for preschoolers
• Early reader books
• Children's novels
• Young adult novels (realism, fantasy, science fiction)
• Non-fiction books
• Comics, Manga, Graphic Novels
• Audiobooks and multimedia formats

Accompanying Program

Readings, workshops, author talks, school outreach programs, and professional events accompany the book exhibition. School classes attend in organized groups, families individually.

City and University of Oldenburg

The fair is organized by the City of Oldenburg together with Carl von Ossietzky University — a municipal-academic collaboration that gives KIBUM its special character.