#lbm26: MVB at Leipziger Buchmesse

This year's Leipziger Buchmesse is marked by a premiere. Instead of a guest of honor, there is a focus topic for the first time:

Donau – Unter Strom und zwischen Welten

The Danube river is predestined for the opening. It flows almost 3,000 km through Europe, from the Black Forest to the Black Sea. In doing so, it connects the diverse literature of ten countries.

On a specially created stage in Hall 4, curated book presentations, discussions and debates will now showcase the literary, social and political history of the Danube region and bring it to life.

We are very much looking forward to this innovation and are already buzzing with excitement...

Also, we are eagerly anticipating the many encounters and discussions with familiar and new faces at our stand. We will be welcoming you there together with our colleagues from Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Frankfurter Buchmesse and Mediacampus Frankfurt. Come and visit us!

You can find all the information about our appearance at #lbm26 on this page.

See you in Leipzig
Your MVB team

Our listening tip: To get you in the mood for the focus topic, the Podcast Donau-Flaschenpost introduces authors from the Danube region.

Thursday, March 19, 2026

• 10:30 – 11:00 Uhr | Als Klein- und Selbstverlag erfolgreich im Buchmarkt positionieren
• 14:00 – 15:00 Uhr | Alfred-Kerr-Preis für Literaturkritik 2026: Verleihung
• 14:00 – 14:45 Uhr | MVB-Sprechstunde: Büchergutschein für Buchhandlungen
• 15:00 – 15:30 Uhr | Metadaten und Magie – wie Daten die Zukunft der Buchbranche gestalten

Friday, March 03, 2026

• 10:30 – 18:00 Uhr | Karrieretag Buch und Medien 2026
• 11:00 – 11:45 Uhr | MVB-Sprechstunde: Büchergutschein für Buchhandlungen
  

Please also note the information provided by our colleagues from Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels and Mediacampus Frankfurt.

We asked the premium publishers on our VLB-TIX platform for their book recommendations for event highlights at the Leipziger Buchmesse. More than 130 top titles were collected. Enjoy discovering them!

To the preview

Further recommendations and the titles on the monthly #BookTok bestseller lists can be found on the VLB-TIX website.

From now on, bookshops that publicly declare on the VLB-TIX website that they are no longer using printed preview catalogues will not only receive fame and glory, but also official proof of sustainability in the form of a certificate.

In line with best practice principles, we are giving a high-profile platform to those who are already making a clear contribution to the sustainability of our industry through their active use of our system.

And as a thank you for their exemplary reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, we are also planting a tree for each bookshop.

Would you like to switch your bookshop completely to digital book trading? Then feel free to discuss your options with our colleague Rahel.

Our reading tip: We asked our colleague Franziska how the idea for the campaign came about and why a certificate for more climate-conscious book trading is needed in the first place. To the interview

One for all: Büchergutschein replaces Bücherscheck. In future, bookshops and retailers in Germany will jointly focus on a brand that leads customers exclusively to partner bookshops.

Bücherscheck can only be sold until Tuesday, 31 March, 2026.

The changeover was preceded by a pilot phase involving more than 100 bookshops. Over several months, they tested the standardised book voucher and the digital processes for its sale, acceptance and settlement.

Bookshops can register to participate in the Büchergutschein scheme at any time – membership of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers and Booksellers Association) is a prerequisite. Due to the revised terms and conditions of participation, existing partner bookshops of Bücherscheck scheme must also re-register.

Our reading tip: In an interview, our colleague Karolin talks about what the changeover entails and why it is worth switching or joining the scheme.

Our trade magazine Börsenblatt, together with the Stiftung Buchkultur und Leseförderung des Börsenvereins des Deutschen Buchhandels, is awarding journalist, writer and translator Dietmar Dath the Alfred-Kerr-Preis für Literaturkritik this year for his reviews (press release).

Congratulations!

According to the jury, his texts are characterised by ‘their witty, well-composed and refreshingly idiosyncratic use of language’. This promises to be an entertaining acceptance speech.

We are already very excited about the public award ceremony during the Leipzig Book Fair. The full reasons for the choice of winner can be found in our trade magazine Börsenblatt. To the article

Would you like to know what we are up to before and after the book fair? Then subscribe to our monthly company update.