#fbm26: MVB at Frankfurter Buchmesse

This October, we are heading to the sea—or, more precisely, to the Czech Republic. Although the country is not located on the coast, the Guest of Honor at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2026 has chosen "A Country on the Coast" as the theme for its appearance. This reference to Shakespeare’s "The Winter’s Tale" is meant to symbolize the connection between Czech literature and the global ocean of stories. We are already very excited about this journey of discovery into familiar and unfamiliar waters. 

There is plenty to discover here as well: new topics in our dialogue series "MVB-Austausch" and in our Q&A sessions "MVB-Sprechstunde", as well as new features in our systems—plus even more international exchange, including through our "Expedition Frankfurt".

Stop by and learn how our "Empowering Solutions" make your day-to-day work more efficient and effective, connecting people and markets. We will be there for you at our booth with colleagues from all five MVB locations in Germany, Brazil, Mexico, the US, and the UK.

You can find all the information about our presence at #fbm26 on this page.


Na shledanou ve Frankfurtu
Your MVB Team

When people hear the word "trend", they probably think first of current developments in the area of new releases. Yet one of the most enduring trends of recent years has been the growing importance of the backlist. In 2025, for example, the share of titles in Germany whose publication date was more than twelve months prior to sale stood at 57 percent (source: Media Control). The challenge, therefore, is to become discoverable and remain discoverable over the long term—and to do so within a relevant context.

With Verzeichnis Lieferbarer Bücher (VLB), the German books in print, and its catalog VLB-TIX, we provide publishers and booksellers with professional tools for successful book retailing, and the synergy between these two tools ensures that both aspects are addressed. With our new research tool Suche+ and its notification service, for example, you can keep an eye on market developments and identify new trends early on. And thanks to our partnership with the Berlin-based startup Snackz, we will be launching the new "Metadata Assistant" in VLB in the fourth quarter of 2026. Powered by AI, it helps you create product information. Together, we want to show what is possible when industry expertise and AI work together effectively: better data, less manual effort, and greater visibility for books.

By the way: Digital workflows are also a clear trend. Take a look at which bookstores have completely or partially done away with printed previews.

Did you know who the first Guest of Honor at Frankfurter Buchmesse in 1976? Latin America. To mark the 50th anniversary, we are organizing "Expedition Frankfurt" in collaboration with the Frankfurter Buchmesse team and industry expert Cássia Carrenho. This coaching and networking program brings Brazilian publishing professionals and other experts from the regional book industryto Frankfurt, the central hub of the international publishing community, and helps them prepare for the book fair and establish business contacts. The program includes pre-fair training sessions and briefings—for example, on international rights trading—and offers targeted guidance during #fbm26, including guided tours of the fairgrounds. The central meeting point is a dedicated group booth in Hall 3.1, F 120, where books from the participating publishers will also be showcased. More about the program

And that’s not all. We are also an official partner of the new "LATAM Stage" in Hall 3.1, F 70, and helped curate the program. From Wednesday through Friday of the fair, an extensive expert forum will take place there, featuring experts from various countries who will shed light on current developments—ranging from the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital distribution channels to trends in rights and licensing. In total, more than a dozen book markets will be featured in the expert talks. Over the weekend of the fair, the focus will be on the voices and stories of Latin America. Authors and artists from the region will discuss topics ranging from literature to social issues. To the event calendar

Of course, we can't forget to celebrate: To wrap up Thursday at the trade show, we are once again inviting all fans of Latin America to our traditional "Caipirinha Meets Oktoberfest" happy hour.

At #fbm26, book wish lists grow faster than you can say "I’ll just take a look." And if your TBR pile can grow just a little more, a book gift card comes in handy.

From Friday, October 9, 2026, through Sunday, October 11, 2026, you can win one of ten book gift cards, each worth 25 euros. Just stop by our booth, fill out the entry card, and drop it into our raffle box.

The book voucher can be redeemed after the fair at any of the participating bookstores throughout Germany—for new reading material and even more reading pleasure. 

And if you cannot make it to Frankfurt, you can still participate. Find out more at the Instagram account of Büchergutscheins.

KNIHY. KNIHY? KNIHY! 

Our popular “BOOKS. BOOKS? BOOKS!” postcard is back, this time in Czech. You can pick one up for free at our booth—and, of course, at the information desk for the Guest of Honor at #fbm26 in Forum 1.

The digital catalog in VLB-TIX offers an overview of current titles from the guest country, the Czech Republic. Discover "A Country on the Coast"!

The entire fair in the palm of your hand! With the Frankfurt Book Fair app, you can stay on top of everything:

• Exhibitors
• Events
• Products
• Floor plan

Additional practical information can be found in the Service section.

Registered users also have access to personal calendar entries, a custom favorites list, and a chat feature.

And with the app all of that is available on the go: www.buchmesse.de/en/app