The 77th Frankfurt Book Fair opened its doors on October 14, 2025, transforming the Messe Frankfurt convention center into a vibrant crossroads of global literature, culture, and critical debate. More than 4,000 publishers and over 1,000 authors from around the world converged on the city, making the event once again the largest of its kind in the publishing world, as reported by Daily Pakistan and Chytomo. This year, the Philippines takes center stage as Guest of Honour, inviting visitors to explore its literary and cultural richness under the theme, “The Imagination Peoples the Air.”
The opening ceremony, broadcast live, set the tone for a week marked not just by book launches and business deals, but by urgent conversations about democracy, digital colonialism, and the fast-evolving impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the world of books. The event was moderated by German musician and music critic Matthias Keller and featured a distinguished roster of speakers, including Karin Schmidt-Friedrichs, President of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association; Juergen Boos, Director of the Frankfurt Book Fair; and Wolfram Weimer, Germany’s Minister of Culture and Media. Local officials such as Frankfurt Mayor Mike Josef and Hesse’s Minister of Culture, Education, and Opportunities Armin Schwarz also addressed the audience, underscoring the fair’s significance as a forum for both cultural and political dialogue.
Juergen Boos, in his welcome address, captured the spirit of the fair: “The Frankfurt Book Fair brings people together from all over the world. That is the essence of our brand. In a world where borders are being re-erected, we take on this mission every year. And this year, with perhaps an unprecedented sense of urgency.” Boos emphasized the fair’s mission to unite voices across divides, especially in a time when wars, censorship, and book bans threaten free literary expression. He introduced the new cultural program, “Frankfurt Calling,” designed to give a platform to writers and thinkers silenced or banned in their home countries, in partnership with the UN, Amnesty International, and the International Publishers Association.
Karin Schmidt-Friedrichs, who is stepping down as chairwoman of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, called for a renewed commitment to freedom of expression, diversity, and the serendipity that literature fosters. She warned that these values are increasingly under threat from tech monopolies and the rise of algorithm-driven content: “Ensure a democratic future for our country so that the power of imagination conveyed by our books has a fair chance to stand up to the cold power of tech giants. After all, that is the essence of the Frankfurt Book Fair.”
The specter of artificial intelligence loomed large over the proceedings. Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer did not mince words about the existential risks posed by AI to the literary world. He warned, “American and Chinese tech giants are training their AI systems on the basis of the world’s creative achievements. They have been doing this for the past five years and have never asked for our permission. This means that entire cultures are becoming suppliers of raw materials and are being exploited. I call this digital colonialism, which we can no longer accept.” He cited a striking example: “We have been given a glimpse of it when the US president, in his enthusiasm, decided to rename the sea, calling the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Four weeks later, Google put this into practice. The world maps were changed solely by the power of Google Maps. The UN was powerless to do anything about it. And this shows what will happen if we simply allow these monopolies to reign unchallenged.”
Weimer also cautioned that AI could “rip the world of literature to pieces,” echoing the growing debate at the fair about the role of technology in editing, translation, and rights management. The challenge, he argued, is not just technical but deeply political, as more countries—including Germany—face the rise of right-wing, authoritarian movements that find resonance in the digital world. “Even in Germany, we face this threat — due to new, right-wing, authoritarian movements that are finding resonance in the digital world. In such conditions, it is becoming increasingly hard to defend our democracy,” Weimer noted.
Frankfurt Mayor Mike Josef took a broader view, reflecting on democracy as “the most effective idea of our time.” He linked the defense of democratic values to the everyday stories that shape children’s lives, saying, “Democracy does not begin in parliament. It is born in the small stories that children experience every day. When a child from Ukraine reads a poem in German and the class applauds. When a Jewish boy in Kassel tells his classmate how Passover is celebrated. When children from 12 different countries play soccer and argue about who has the best goalkeeper — not where he comes from. In moments like these, democracy breathes. It lives and grows. That is why this extremely valuable achievement must be defended again and again every day.”
Armin Schwarz, Hesse’s Minister of Culture, Education, and Opportunities, echoed these sentiments, stressing the need to nurture democracy at the grassroots level and warning against complacency. The opening ceremony also featured a strong Filipino presence, with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa and documentary filmmaker Patricia Evangelista among the country’s 100-strong delegation. Poets Marjorie Evasco, Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta, and Merlie M. Alunan shared their poetry, while the Philippines’ pavilion showcased authors such as Mina Esguerra and explored topics ranging from climate fiction and diaspora literature to innovative formats like flip-top rap battles.
The fair’s role as a global trading platform remains as vital as ever, facilitating the sale of rights for translations, adaptations, and multimedia projects spanning films, TV, radio plays, and digital media. Discussions about the future of publishing—especially the ethical and economic implications of AI—were front and center, making Frankfurt a hub for both tradition and transformation.
Author Nora Haddada addressed the ongoing turbulence in world affairs, referencing climate change, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, and the rise of far-right extremism in Germany. She urged writers to resist self-censorship, describing literature as “a weapon against authoritarianism and censorship” and praising its ability to foster reflection and resilience in troubled times.
In a moment of celebration, the German Book Prize was awarded to Dorothee Elmiger for her novel Die Holländerinnen (The Dutch Women), a prestigious honor worth 37,500 euros, presented the day before the fair officially opened. The event itself is expected to draw over 200,000 visitors by its close on Sunday, with exclusive trade visitor days followed by public access beginning Friday. The festivities will culminate with the presentation of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, reaffirming Frankfurt’s enduring role as a beacon for literary freedom and cultural exchange.
For all its grandeur, the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair is not just a celebration of books—it’s a rallying cry for the values that keep literature, and democracy itself, alive in a rapidly changing world.
