Chennai Book Fair 2027: 50th Edition to Run from January 7 to 19 at Nandanam

The 50th Chennai Book Fair will feature international literary guests, global Tamil participation and special initiatives to encourage young readers.

The 50th edition of the Chennai Book Fair will be held from January 7 to 19, 2027, at the YMCA Ground in Nandanam, Chennai. Organised by the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI), the Golden Jubilee edition will mark five decades of promoting books, reading and Tamil literature.

The Golden Jubilee logo and official website, chennaibookfair.com, were unveiled at a ceremony in Chennai. J.C.D. Prabhakar, Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, unveiled the logo and launched the website. A. Loyola Mani, Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Textbook Corporation, and Kavitha, Chennai District Library Officer, also addressed the gathering.

BAPASI President R.S. Shanmugam delivered the welcome address, while BAPASI Secretary S. Vairavan proposed the vote of thanks. A video showcasing the book fair’s 50-year journey was also screened.

Global Literary Focus for Golden Jubilee

BAPASI has planned several special initiatives for the milestone edition, including inviting Nobel Prize-winning authors in literature as special guests. Representatives of Tamil associations from different countries will also be invited to strengthen international connections within the global Tamil community.

The initiative aims to showcase Tamil language and culture internationally while encouraging reading among younger generations living abroad. The association also plans to recognise multilingual scholars, particularly senior writers and creators aged above 60, for their contributions to Indian languages.

Students to Become Book Fair Ambassadors

To attract younger audiences, BAPASI plans to appoint school and college students as Chennai Book Fair Ambassadors. They will promote events through social media and encourage greater student participation.

Shanmugam said the Chennai Book Fair has become an important platform for presenting Tamil language and literature to the world. He added that the Golden Jubilee edition would introduce new events for readers, students, teachers, writers, entrepreneurs and publishers.

Celebrating 50 Years of Reading

BAPASI thanked the Tamil Nadu Government for its continued support and invited people from all sections of society to participate in the celebrations. The January 2027 edition is expected to bring together publishers, booksellers, authors, students and literary organisations to mark this significant milestone.