This year’s edition, dedicated to the late Iraqi president and Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani and named the “President Mam Jalal Edition,” runs through October 13 at the Sulaymaniyah Exhibition Hall.

According to organizers, more than 150 publishing houses and cultural institutions are taking part, including 70 international publishers from 16 countries such as Iran, Egypt, the United Kingdom, Germany, the UAE, Lebanon, Turkey, Palestine and Jordan. Over 250,000 books spanning literature, politics, history, philosophy and children’s works are on display.

The opening ceremony was attended by senior officials, among them Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Culture and Youth Mohammed Saeed and Sulaymaniyah Governor Haval Abubakir, underscoring the event’s growing regional importance.

Hassan Rahim, head of the fair’s organizing committee, described the 2025 edition as “unlike previous years,” noting broader international participation and a stronger logistical framework. “Our goal is to make this fair more accessible to the public and more influential for publishers,” he said.

Iran’s national pavilion, organized by the Iran Book and Literature House in cooperation with the Iranian Cultural House in Sulaymaniyah, features works from more than 60 Iranian publishers. The exhibit includes selections in classical and modern Persian literature, children’s and young adult fiction, Iranology, religion, Persian language learning, and tourism.

Independent Iranian publishers such as Cheshmeh, Ehsan, Ravayat-e Fath, and Kurdistan Publishing are also presenting their newest releases.

Beyond the book exhibitions, the fair’s agenda includes author meet-and-greets, literary panels, and multilingual cultural discussions in Kurdish, Arabic, Persian, and English, reflecting the event’s broader mission to foster regional cultural dialogue.

Organizers say the Sulaymaniyah International Book Fair continues to serve as a bridge between Middle Eastern and global publishing communities — with this year’s diverse participation signaling its steady rise as one of the region’s key literary gatherings.