New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday inaugurated the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026, describing it as a grand celebration of India’s vibrant reading culture and a confluence of ideas that reflects the country’s intellectual and civilisational strength.
The inauguration ceremony at Bharat Mandapam was attended by Qatar’s Minister of Culture Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, Spain’s Minister of Culture Ernest Urtasun Domènech, senior officials from both countries, and representatives of the National Book Trust (NBT) and the Ministry of Education.
During the event, Pradhan released “The Saga of Kudopali: The Untold Story of 1857” in nine Indian languages and Spanish, honouring the legacy of Veer Surendra Sai and the martyrs of Sambalpur. The book, earlier available in Hindi, English and Odia, is now published in 13 languages. Pradhan said the initiative not only brings lesser-known chapters of India’s freedom struggle to a wider audience but also strengthens India’s tradition of multilingualism and global cultural dialogue, according to an official release.
Calling NDWBF the world’s largest B2C book fair, the Minister said the event goes beyond commerce to nurture a nationwide reading movement. He noted that the theme of this year’s fair, “Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75,” and the participation of countries such as Qatar and Spain add deeper cultural and historical significance.
Spain’s Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun Domènech said his country’s participation during the Spain–India Dual Year 2026 offers a valuable opportunity to introduce Spanish writers to Indian readers, recalling the historic literary link between Juan Ramón Jiménez and Rabindranath Tagore. Qatar’s Culture Minister Abdulrahman Al Thani said his country’s presence reflects the depth of bilateral ties and reinforces the role of culture and knowledge in people-to-people engagement.
Organised by the National Book Trust under the Ministry of Education, with the India Trade Promotion Organisation as co-organiser, NDWBF 2026 will run from January 10 to 18 at Bharat Mandapam. Entry has been made free for the first time. The nine-day fair brings together over 1,000 publishers from more than 35 countries, hosts 600 events with over 1,000 speakers, and is expected to attract over two million visitors.
