Beijing International Book Fair Marks 40 Years with Focus on AI, IP Licensing, and Digital Publishing

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Beijing International Book Fair 2026 is spotlighting AI, IP licensing, digital publishing, and cross-media content as key drivers of the publishing industry's future.
on Jun 17, 2026

 

One of the world's biggest book publishing fairs, the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), is marking its 40 years with an agenda revolving around artificial intelligence, intellectual property licensing, and the digital publishing industry.

Scheduled to take place between June 17 and June 21, 2026, at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, the fair will attract in excess of 1,700 participants from 82 different countries and regions spread over an area of 60,000 square meters. The Country of Honour for the 40th iteration of BIBF is going to be the United Arab Emirates.

AI Reshapes the Publishing Conversation

Artificial intelligence has become an important theme throughout the world of publishing, and BIBF 2026 plans to become one of its focal points.

The conference will feature a special exhibit focused on AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) technology, which will include top Chinese technology and publishing firms such as NetEase, Tencent, Fanqie Novel (ByteDance), 37 Interactive Entertainment, and Yuewen.

The increasing relevance of artificial intelligence is also apparent from the conference program, where industry experts will discuss the effects of automation and generative AI on editorial processes, content creation, intellectual property, and consumer interaction.

Digital Reading Trends Keep Rising

Before the book fair, Douyin released its annual book reading trends, which showed how influential digital content is when it comes to discovering and ordering books.

The reports show that the volume of book content shared on the Douyin app increased by double digits in one year, resulting in a rise in book orders by 99 percent.

This trend shows a shift in the book market as books are increasingly being sold online.

Expanding Possibilities through IP Licensing

Another significant addition to this year's event is the opening of the first-ever IP Licensing Zone at BIBF, which shows the growing significance of intellectual property creation within publishing.

More and more publishers have been trying to tap into possibilities other than books, such as movie adaptation, video games, animation, merchandise production, and digital entertainment. The initiative seeks to forge greater links between publishers and other creative industries around the world.

Cross-media storytelling will form another core topic for discussion in the upgraded BIBF ComicHub, where speakers from around the world representing the field of animation, comics, and video games will be featured, including those from the United States and Nigeria.

Strategic Forums for the Future of Publishing Industry

In order to cope with the fast-changing dynamics within the publishing industry, some strategic forums will be conducted by BIBF:

Beijing International Publishing Forum (BIPF): United for a Common Future of Publishing

PubTech Conference: AI-Powered Future

International Publishing Education Summit

World Children's Book Forum

Discussions at the forums will be based on themes such as AI-based publishing strategy, rights management, and creation of innovative education models for preparing future professionals of the publishing industry.

The Role of a Hub for Creativity and Rights

Addressing ahead of the conference, Lei Jianhua, Deputy President of CNPIEC, stressed that the BIBF will strive towards being a global hub for rights trade, intellectual property creation and management, and creativity resources.

With the evolution of publishing into an even more complex business involving not only printing but technologies, content, and licensing opportunities, the BIBF 2026 marks the increasing relevance of innovation and international cooperation for the industry.

For publishers, authors, literary agents, technology companies, and anyone who deals with rights, the BIBF in 2026 provides insight into the future of AI, digitalization, and intellectual property.