The 28th edition of the fair opened Wednesday at the Pins Maritimes Exhibition Palace under the theme “The Book: A Meeting Place of Cultures". Running from October 29 to November 8, 2025, the event brings together 1,254 publishers from 49 countries and features more than 240,000 book titles. Mauritania serves as this year’s guest of honor.

Iran’s participation, organized by the Iran's Book and Literature House in cooperation with the country’s Cultural Center in Algiers, includes a broad selection of works in literature, history, art, and children’s publishing.

Officials said the country’s return follows “years of persistent effort” to revive its presence in the North African cultural market.

The opening ceremony was attended by Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb, along with the ministers of culture from Algeria and Mauritania, as well as senior government officials, diplomats, and representatives from national cultural institutions.

On the first day, the fairgrounds drew large crowds, with many visitors stopping by the Iranian pavilion to explore Persian-language publications and take photos beside the Iranian flag — a gesture organizers described as a reflection of “warm public interest.”

Coinciding with the 71st anniversary of Algeria’s revolution, this year’s fair features more than 50 cultural programs, including lectures, panel discussions, and poetry readings on topics such as history, creativity in the digital age, and the Palestinian cause.