Parchim Book and Comic Fair PaBuCo

A Book Festival with a Comic Heart

The Parchim Book and Comic Fair, affectionately abbreviated PaBuCo by visitors and organisers, is one of the newest cultural formats in Parchim, the district town of Ludwigslust-Parchim in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The fair was initiated by the town of Parchim together with the public library and the Parchim-based author Sabine Reifenstahl. The very first edition in 2025 struck a chord: hundreds of book lovers and colourfully costumed cosplayers thronged the halls. The response was so positive that the town is expanding the format from one to two days for 2026.

What Visitors Can Expect

The venue is the Parchim Stadthalle, located in the same building complex as the public library and only about a 15-minute walk from the train station. In the large hall, around 50 authors will present their works, while a separate, smaller hall with about 15 stands is dedicated entirely to the comic scene. Across all genres — novels, children's books, crime fiction, fantasy, comics, manga, and graphic novels — visitors can meet the authors in person, strike up conversations, and have their purchased volumes signed on the spot.

Cosplay, Workshops, and Reading Stage

• Cosplay Competition with prizes — the colourful centrepiece of the fair
• Readings and Live Acts on stage spread across both days
• Workshops on writing, drawing, and design
• Photo Shoots for costumed attendees with a professional photographer
• Face Painting and hands-on activities for the youngest guests

Part of the Anniversary Year

PaBuCo 2026 falls in a special year: Parchim is celebrating its 800th town anniversary in 2026. Fittingly, the Parchim Town Museum will offer live interviews at the fair about the town's 800-year history, and the Heimatbund Parchim e.V. (Parchim Heritage Association) invites visitors to free city tours on both days. Thus, the fair combines young pop culture with local history — a format that is unique in the Mecklenburg region.

Family-Friendly and Accessible

PaBuCo is consciously designed as an event for everyone: Admission is three euros for both days, children and young people under 18 get in for free, as do all visitors in costume. The fair deliberately lowers the barrier for families and young people — reading, comics, and pop culture should be fun and inclusive.