The London Book Fair 2027: publishing, rights and creative content

16–18 March 2027 at ExCeL London, London, England. The London Book Fair is an international trade fair for the publishing community, organised by Reed Exhibitions Limited (RX). It brings together publishing professionals to develop relationships, exchange industry knowledge and explore the future of creative content. Its programme combines exhibition discovery with conferences and specialist activities, including the International Rights Centre and author-focused sessions.

The 2027 edition is scheduled to take place at ExCeL London. The organiser identifies the venue as One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL. The move from the event’s former venue is a material planning change: use the current venue information when arranging your visit.

Why The London Book Fair matters

Discover publishing activity across the supply chain

Book publishing depends on a wide network: publishers and imprints, authors and agents, rights holders, content commissioners, distributors, and specialist service and technology providers. The fair gives these groups a professional setting to explore work and services beyond their usual contacts. For visitors, the practical value is not simply seeing a range of books; it is learning which organisations, formats and commercial relationships are relevant to a defined publishing goal.

Explore rights and licensing conversations

The International Rights Centre is a recognised part of the fair’s offer. Rights professionals and publishers can use the fair to identify titles, territories, formats or counterparties for discussion. A meeting is a starting point rather than an agreement: rights ownership, language and territory scope, format, term, royalty structure and delivery requirements still need careful review.

Learn from publishing-focused sessions

The organiser presents conference programmes and seminar activity alongside the exhibition. Recent programme strands have included the Writers’ Summit and the Academic and Professional Publishing Conference, as well as sessions addressing publishing practice and industry topics. These are examples of the event’s programme format; check the organiser’s 2027 programme when it is published before planning around particular sessions.

Who should visit The London Book Fair?

The most useful visit depends on your role and what decision you need to make. Set an objective before you arrive, then use the exhibitor information and programme to prioritise your time.

Publishers and commissioning editors

Useful if you are looking for:

• New authors, titles or content relevant to your publishing list.
• Rights holders, literary agents and potential publishing counterparts.
• Partners or services that could support editorial, production or market development.
• Ideas about how content can be adapted or positioned across formats and territories.
• Industry discussion that can inform commissioning and business planning.

Use the fair to organise targeted conversations, compare relevant offerings and record the questions that need follow-up. The 2027 programme and exhibitor information should guide final priorities.

Rights, licensing and literary-agency professionals

Useful if you are looking for:

• Titles or catalogues that match your client, territory or format remit.
• Publishers, agents and rights holders with whom to discuss representation or licensing.
• Information about rights availability and the scope of a potential transaction.
• Professional contacts for follow-up on translation, adaptation or distribution questions.
• A structured way to review opportunities rather than relying on unplanned meetings.

Prepare a concise rights brief: the territories, languages, formats, genres and commercial terms you can consider. Confirm availability and authority directly with the rights holder; fair attendance does not itself establish that any right is available.

Authors and writers

Useful if you want to understand publishing pathways, learn from publishing-focused sessions and meet people whose work connects to your writing or professional development. The organiser has presented a Writers’ Summit as part of its programme in recent editions. Check the 2027 programme for confirmed sessions and access arrangements, then identify specific questions about representation, submissions, rights or the business of writing.

Academic and professional publishing teams

Useful if you work with scholarly, educational, technical or other professional content and want to follow specialist discussion, assess services or explore relationships across the publishing chain. The organiser has featured an Academic and Professional Publishing Conference. Use its 2027 programme, when available, to decide which themes matter to your organisation; do not assume that a previous edition’s sessions will repeat.

Publishing-service and technology providers

Useful if your organisation serves publishers or content owners and wants to understand their priorities, present relevant expertise or explore prospective business relationships. Define the customer problem your service addresses, prepare a concise explanation of capabilities and evidence, and identify suitable exhibitors or visitor groups before making the trip. Any commercial outcome depends on the organisations involved and subsequent evaluation.

What can you find at The London Book Fair?

Books and creative content

The fair is centred on the publishing community and creative content. Visitors can explore publishers and content-related organisations through the event’s exhibitor information. The precise product and company listing changes by edition, so use the current directory rather than relying on an old catalogue.

Rights, licensing and representation

The International Rights Centre provides a dedicated context for rights-related activity. Publishers, agents and rights professionals may use it to identify counterparties and discuss licensing possibilities. Before treating a title as a fit, verify the rights holder, territory, language, format, availability and decision-making authority.

Publishing expertise and services

The event also presents publishing-focused conferences and a wider exhibition. Depending on the confirmed 2027 listings, attendees can use these resources to explore professional practice, publishing services and relevant industry conversations. The official product directory is intended to support discovery, but its current listing should be checked as the next edition’s information develops.

Writers’ and specialist programme activity

Recent editions have included a Writers’ Summit and an Academic and Professional Publishing Conference. These strands show that the programme can serve both writers and specialist publishing professionals. They are not a promise of the 2027 schedule: confirm session titles, speakers and timings in the published programme.

What makes The London Book Fair different?

Its distinctive value is the combination of a publishing exhibition, rights-focused activity and professional programme in one event. The International Rights Centre makes rights and licensing visible within the fair; conference strands bring publishing themes into the same visit; and the exhibitor and product tools help visitors research organisations before attending. That combination is particularly relevant to people whose work crosses editorial, commercial and rights decisions. The exact companies, products and sessions vary by edition, so use current official listings to distinguish confirmed opportunities from past examples.

What should you try to achieve at The London Book Fair?

If you are a publisher or commissioning editor

Set a measurable objective such as: identify a short list of titles, rights holders or service partners that meet a specific editorial or business need, and document the next question for each. Define your subject areas, formats, target markets and timing before browsing.

If you work in rights or literary representation

Set an objective such as: prioritise a manageable set of rights conversations that match your territory, language and format remit. Record who controls the rights, what is available, what evidence is needed and who will follow up.

If you are an author

Set an objective such as: leave with a clearer understanding of one publishing or professional-development question. Select relevant sessions from the confirmed programme and prepare concise questions; do not assume that meeting an agent or publisher guarantees a submission opportunity.

If you provide publishing services

Set an objective such as: identify organisations whose documented needs align with your service, and arrange a specific next step for qualified conversations. Bring a clear explanation of your offer and the customer problem it addresses.

How to prepare before The London Book Fair

1. Define the decision you want to make

Write down what you need to discover, compare, learn or discuss. Keep the goal specific: a rights question, a publishing-service comparison, a specialist conference theme or a publishing contact you need to evaluate. A broad aim such as “see what is new” makes it difficult to choose where to spend time.

2. Research the current exhibitor and product information

Use the organiser’s current directory and visitor planner as they become available. Search by organisation, product or subject, then make a shortlist. Listings change as the event approaches; verify details close to your visit and do not assume a company shown in a previous edition will return.

3. Prioritise conversations

Classify targets into three groups: A — essential, directly related to your objective; B — useful, potentially relevant counterparties or services; and C — explore if time allows, interesting leads outside your core plan. For rights discussions, identify the relevant title, territory, language and format. For service providers, note your current workflow and the requirement you need to solve.

4. Prepare questions that support comparison

• Which titles, formats or services are currently available?
• Who owns or controls the relevant rights, and what authority does the contact have?
• Which territories, languages and formats are included or excluded?
• What are the technical, editorial or production requirements?
• What evidence, samples or specifications can be reviewed after the fair?
• What are the relevant delivery, implementation or publication timelines?
• What commercial terms require further discussion?
• What is the agreed next action, responsible contact and follow-up date?

5. Build a realistic programme plan

Review the 2027 schedule once published. Mark essential sessions and meetings, allow time to move between them, and leave open space for relevant discoveries. Check registration, admission and venue information directly with the organiser before travelling; the event page currently invites visitors to register interest, which is not the same as confirmation of ticket availability or price.

How to make the most of The London Book Fair

Use a consistent note for every meaningful conversation: Organisation → title, product or service → relevance to my objective → evidence or open question → contact → next action. This helps you compare alternatives after the fair rather than relying on memory.

For a rights conversation, record the title and rights scope discussed, the person responsible for confirming availability, territories and formats, and any materials needed for evaluation. For a publishing-service discussion, note the workflow addressed, compatibility questions, references or specifications to review and the next step. Treat proposals as leads for due diligence, not as verified commitments.

Use the official planner and directory if available for the 2027 edition. Keep time for sessions only after confirming their schedule; past programmes are useful context, not a substitute for the current one. At the end of each day, organise notes and identify follow-ups while conversations are still clear.

Plan your time realistically

The London Book Fair runs across three days. A multi-day visit may help if you need both exhibition conversations and a specialist programme, or if your objectives span rights, publishing services and professional learning. Visitors with one narrow task may prefer to prioritise a focused set of meetings and sessions rather than trying to cover every part of the event.

Before the day

Check venue details, your personal schedule, the current programme and the organisations you want to see. Group priorities by objective, and leave room for breaks and unexpected conversations.

During the day

Protect time for essential meetings and sessions, but avoid packing the schedule so tightly that a useful discussion has to be cut short. Capture a short note immediately after each meeting and distinguish a confirmed fact from a claim that needs verification.

At the end of each day

Review what you learned, identify unanswered questions, and decide which contacts merit follow-up. Adjust the next day’s plan based on evidence rather than adding meetings simply to fill the diary.

Beyond the exhibition floor

The organiser’s programme has included the Writers’ Summit, the Academic and Professional Publishing Conference and a conference programme spanning different publishing topics. In past programme descriptions, themes have included rights selling, contracts, publishing pathways and industry issues. These are examples from earlier editions, not a confirmed 2027 schedule. Review the current programme when released and select sessions that help answer a defined professional question.

Networking at The London Book Fair

Useful networking starts with a clear reason to speak. Prepare a brief introduction explaining your role, the subjects or territories you work with, and the kind of conversation you are seeking. Ask focused questions, listen for fit and constraints, and agree a concrete next step only when it is appropriate. Exchange contact details through the methods available at the event and record the context of the conversation.

For international rights and licensing, avoid assuming that enthusiasm means rights are available. Confirm the rights holder, territory, language, format, term and approval process. For service discussions, clarify scope, integration, evidence and decision timelines. After the fair, follow up with a concise message that refers to the specific discussion and asks for the agreed information.

One day or several days at The London Book Fair?

• One day: may suit visitors with a narrow shortlist of meetings or one primary programme strand. Focus on confirmed appointments and essential sessions.
• Two days: may work for attendees combining meetings with a conference or rights-centre objective, while retaining some time for discovery.
• Three days: may be useful when your priorities span the exhibition, multiple specialist sessions and follow-up conversations. The fair’s three-day format does not mean every visitor needs to attend for all three days.

Choose the duration after reviewing the current schedule and your meeting priorities; do not base the decision on an unpublished 2027 programme.

After The London Book Fair: where the value starts

Within a short time after the fair, sort contacts by priority: A — immediate, a clear business or rights question with an agreed next step; B — potential, relevant but requiring more information; and C — market intelligence, useful context without an immediate action. Follow up with the specific request discussed: a catalogue, rights availability, sample, service specification, technical information or a further conversation.

Evaluate information consistently. For a rights opportunity, confirm ownership, scope, territory, language, format and terms with the authorised party. For a service or technology provider, compare requirements, support, evidence and implementation implications. Record decisions and reasons so that promising conversations do not become untracked leads. A connection made at a fair is not itself a completed agreement or guaranteed commercial outcome.

Who should consider exhibiting at The London Book Fair?

The fair is relevant to organisations whose work connects to books, publishing, rights, creative content or publishing services. Potentially relevant participants include publishers, rights holders and agencies, literary representation businesses, and suppliers serving publishing organisations. The organiser’s exhibitor enquiry is the appropriate route to confirm eligibility, stand options, costs, deadlines and participation terms; these details should not be assumed from visitor information.

Before committing, define the business result you want to test: which audience you need to reach, which titles or services you will present, what evidence supports your offer and how you will follow up. Assess the fit against the confirmed event profile and your budget. Exhibiting creates an opportunity to present your work, but it does not guarantee a particular number of leads, sales or rights deals.

The London Book Fair visitor checklist

Before

• ☐ Define one or two outcomes for the visit.
• ☐ Check the current exhibitor directory, visitor planner and 2027 programme.
• ☐ Prioritise meetings and sessions; confirm any arrangements directly.
• ☐ Prepare rights, editorial, service or technical questions relevant to your role.
• ☐ Confirm registration, admission and venue information with the organiser.

During

• ☐ Keep notes using organisation, relevance, evidence, contact and next action.
• ☐ Verify rights authority and scope rather than relying on informal assurances.
• ☐ Allow time for focused conversations and record open questions.
• ☐ Distinguish confirmed information from claims that need checking.

After

• ☐ Sort contacts into immediate, potential and market-intelligence groups.
• ☐ Send follow-up requests that refer to the conversation and agreed next step.
• ☐ Compare options against your original requirements before making a decision.

Is The London Book Fair worth visiting?

The London Book Fair is most useful for people whose work involves publishing, rights, literary representation, authorship, academic or professional content, or services for the publishing sector. Its exhibition, rights-focused activity and conference programme can support discovery and informed conversations, especially when visitors arrive with a shortlist and a clear objective. It may be less useful to someone without a professional or learning goal related to publishing. The return on a visit depends on the relevance of the current exhibitors and sessions, preparation, and disciplined follow-up; walking the floor without a plan is unlikely to answer a specific business question.

The London Book Fair 2027 at a glance

The dates and venue are confirmed on the organiser’s current event pages. Consult the organiser for current registration, exhibitor and programme details before making arrangements.

Make your London Book Fair visit purposeful

Before you go, ask: Which publishing decision, relationship or question do I want to move forward? Let that answer shape your meetings, sessions and follow-up. Research. Prioritise. Compare. Record. Follow up.

Publishing opportunities in the United Kingdom

Market size and demand

The Publishers Association reported total UK publishing revenue of £7.4 billion in 2025, up 3% on the previous year, in its 2025 industry figures. This is a broad publishing-sector revenue measure, not the value of any single book category or a guarantee of demand for an individual title. Separate industry coverage of the same reporting period put publishing exports at £4.7 billion, indicating that international sales are a material part of the sector’s business context.

Market drivers and commercial opportunities

These revenue and export figures support investigation of rights, distribution and publishing-service relationships connected to UK publishers and international markets. Publishers, rights holders and agents may use the fair to explore counterparties and assess whether titles or services fit a specific territory, language or audience. Service providers may use conversations to understand publisher requirements before proposing a solution. These are opportunities to investigate, not evidence that a particular title, buyer or contract is available; competition, rights ownership, commercial terms and market fit remain material considerations.

Regulations and market-entry conditions

UK tax treatment depends on the product and transaction. HMRC guidance provides zero-rating for qualifying books and certain printed matter, and separate guidance covers eligible electronic publications; the detailed conditions and exclusions matter. Do not assume that every digital product, audiobook, service or related item has the same VAT treatment. Publishers and sellers should check the current HMRC rules for the specific product and supply before pricing or contracting.

What this means for exhibitors

Exhibitors may use the event to test interest in UK-linked rights, publishing services or distribution relationships, and to identify the information needed for a serious commercial assessment. Prepare evidence about rights authority, formats, territories, capabilities and terms; the UK revenue figures alone do not establish that a particular offer will succeed.

What this means for visitors

Visitors can use the fair to compare publishing organisations and services, investigate rights or distribution possibilities, and ask how UK tax rules apply to relevant products. Verify rights scope, product eligibility and the commercial conditions directly with the responsible organisations and authorities.

Discover London

London offers cultural visits that can complement a publishing-focused business trip. The venue, ExCeL London, is at Royal Victoria Dock in east London; attractions in other parts of the city should be planned separately from time at the fair.

The British Museum

The British Museum presents collections spanning world history, art and culture. Its collections provide a broad cultural visit for attendees with time beyond the exhibition.

The Tower of London

The Tower of London is a historic fortress and former royal palace, with nearly a thousand years of history described by London’s official visitor guide. It offers a different perspective on the city’s heritage.

Use the event days for the fair and allow separate time for a museum or historic site if it fits your schedule. Check current visitor information directly before travelling.