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Three reasons related to Libri why it’s worth visiting the Book Festival

Colm Tóibín, this year’s guest of honor at the Book Festival, is coming to Budapest with a new novel, and readers will have the chance to meet him in person at his book-signing; 10,000 Tolnai books will be available free of charge to students; and on Sunday, there will also be a discussion about what happens to a child who perceives the world differently than those around them. The 31st Budapest International Book Festival will be held at HUNGEXPO from October 1 through 4, and Libri is preparing for this year’s festival with three very different themes.

1. One of the most prominent contemporary Irish writers is coming to Budapest, and *The Wizard* is coming with him

The guest of honor at the 31st Budapest International Book Festival is the Irish author Colm Tóibín, whose novel *The Magician*—about Thomas Mann—is being published by Park Kiadó for the occasion. Readers will have the opportunity to meet the author at the opening ceremony, during the panel discussion, and at the book signing that follows.

Tóibín is coming to Budapest with a new book: *The Magician*, translated into Hungarian by Júlia Kada, will be published in time for the 31st Budapest International Book Festival. The novel traces the life of Thomas Mann, while also depicting the political and social upheavals of 20th-century Europe through the story of one family.

On Thursday, October 1, at 4:00 p.m., Colm Tóibín will receive the Budapest Grand Prize from Gergely Karácsony, Mayor of Budapest, and Dr. Katalin Gál, President of the Hungarian Association of Book Publishers and Distributors, during the opening ceremony. Following a laudatory speech by Zsófia Bán, the author will deliver her acceptance speech. On Saturday, October 3, at 4:00 p.m., those interested can participate in a panel discussion moderated by writer András Forgách, and then meet the author in person during the book signing that follows.

Pictured: Colm Tóibín Source: Salva López

2. Contemporary Hungarian Literature as a Gift: Libri Is Giving Away 10,000 Tolnai Books to Students for Free

One of Libri’s biggest campaigns this year to promote reading will kick off at the Book Festival: 10,000 copies of a collection of selected poems by Ottó Tolnai will be given away for free to students upon presentation of a student ID.

This initiative is not without precedent. Libri, in collaboration with Jelenkor Publishing, has previously distributed tens of thousands of books to students free of charge. The goal of this year’s campaign is to create an encounter between young readers and the art of Ottó Tolnai—one that might not otherwise happen—and to enable even those who have not yet encountered him to discover one of the most significant contemporary Hungarian artists through a book.

The campaign kicks off at the Book Festival: 300 copies await students at the C38 publishing booth, which is part of the Libri Group. After the festival, the initiative will continue at Libri bookstores, where students can receive a free copy of Tolnai’s book by presenting their student ID. A total of 10,000 copies will thus find their way to new, young readers.

3. What happens if we don’t perceive the same world in the same way?

The Book Festival also serves as one of the first major opportunities to showcase four new storybooks from Libri Talent Mini. Four new volumes have been published as part of the children’s literature branch of Libri’s talent development program, including *Megjöttünk! – Vombat és Tobzoska*, which will also serve as the starting point for a panel discussion at the festival.

The authors of the book, psychologist Zsófia Záborszky and Petra Zsirai, drew on their own experiences as well. Their story does not label children, but rather shows how differently we can experience the same situation: while for one child, waiting and being the center of attention may be a challenge, for another, noise or too many stimuli might be the source of difficulty. Vombat and Tobzoska also approach a new community in different ways: one of them throws themselves into the unknown more easily, while the other needs more time and a sense of security. The neuroaffirmative story is supplemented by audio recordings and exercises available via QR codes for parents and educators.

On October 4 at 1:00 p.m., at the “Special Children’s World” event venue, during the “Who Has to Adapt?—Neurodiversity, Inclusion, and Finding Our Place,” the two authors will discuss what a neuroaffirmative approach means in practice, how to talk about different neurological functioning without labels, and what changes when, upon observing challenging behavior, we ask not only how the child should adapt, but also why the demands might be too much for them. The program is being carried out in cooperation with the Association of Hungarian Book Publishers and Distributors.

“As a publishing company, we also have a responsibility to ensure that as many children as possible can find stories in which they recognize themselves, while also gaining a better understanding of how others function. Not every child perceives the world in the same way, adapts to a new situation in the same way, or feels comfortable with the same things. *Megjöttünk!* is an important book to us because it addresses all of this in a way that speaks to both children and parents without labeling anyone. With this discussion at the Book Festival, we’d like to expand on this story and show that understanding diversity isn’t just a matter for a small community, but for all of us,” said Tibor Metykó, deputy chief executive officer of Libri-Bookline.

Four Days Among Books

The 31st Budapest International Book Festival will be held October 1–4, 2026, at the HUNGEXPO Budapest Convention and Exhibition Center. This year’s guest countries are Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and the guest of honor is Irish author Colm Tóibín.

For Libri, this year’s Book Festival is once again about more than just showcasing books. Through Park Publishing, it is bringing the festival’s guest of honor’s new—and sixth—novel to Hungarian readers; with 10,000 books, it is creating an opportunity for young people to discover Ottó Tolnai; and with Libri Talent Mini, it is providing a platform for new Hungarian children’s authors and topics worth discussing beyond the pages of books.

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Libri Bookline Zrt.

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