The Turin International Book Fair Returns to Lingotto Fiere from Thursday, May 15 to Monday, May 19
The Turin International Book Fair returns to Lingotto Fiere from Thursday, May 15 to Monday, May 19, once again under the direction of Annalena Benini. The event welcomes readers of all ages, who will have the opportunity to meet Italian and international authors, explore the works of participating publishers, and reflect and engage with words. Among its supporters is Fondazione CRT, which this year launches a new initiative together with the Fair: the Ernesto Ferrero – Fondazione CRT Prize.
The theme of the 37th edition of the Book Fair is Le parole tra noi leggere (“The words light between us”)—a phrase that evokes the ever-present possibility of encounter: the joyful and persistent attempt to connect with the “we” through words, to understand, narrate, exchange ideas, and create space for dialogue around art, literature, and everything happening in the world. This year’s Fair celebrates words and the unique substance they’re made of—light, precise, and precious.
The public will once again have access to the traditional spaces of the Fair: pavilions 1, 2, 3, and the Oval at Lingotto Fiere. Pavilion 4, a temporary structure introduced in 2024, has been confirmed as a space for training, experimentation, and intergenerational exchange. It is designed to highlight the programming of Bookstock, which—with its labs, rooms, and large Arena—is aimed not only at younger audiences but at all Fair visitors.
This year, a new area will be introduced: the Publishers Centre, a dedicated lounge for publishing professionals, which will host, for the first time, speed dating sessions between publishers and booksellers, and between publishers and influencers.
Also new is a 100-square-meter external press room, designed to offer journalists a more comfortable workspace tailored to their specific needs. The Fair will also make use of the Centro Congressi, and for the third consecutive year, the Pista 500 by Pinacoteca Agnelli—now a rooftop garden by FIAT. A total of 51 rooms will host more than 2,000 events, and for the first time, the Auditorium of the Lingotto Congress Center will be open to the public from Thursday to Monday, adding around 18,000 additional seats for attendees.
New for 2025 is the Romance Pop-up, a space dedicated to meet-and-greet sessions with top romance authors. These meetings will be held on Saturday, May 17, at the UCI Cinema Torino Lingotto, creating 11 additional venues and offering 147,000 square meters of event space for the day.
Since 2019, to organize the fair, Salone Libro Srl has occupied spaces belonging to seven different entities, the most recognizable of which include Lingotto Fiere, Centro Congressi Lingotto, Pinacoteca Agnelli, Galleria Commerciale 8 Gallery, Lingotto 2000 SpA, Biesse Investment Company SpA, and UCI Cinema Torino Lingotto.
The official poster is illustrated by Benedetta Fasson, who depicts an intimate moment: two figures embracing in a warm, cozy atmosphere. The image conveys the universal value of connection and sharing. Set in a homely living room, it creates a familiar and welcoming space where words flow—sometimes deep, sometimes light—woven into the details like the fabric of the armchair or a quote from Le parole tra noi leggere by Lalla Romano. Through stories, drawings, and words, we build spaces to reach and hold onto lightness, spaces that resemble us, welcome others, and create bonds. The Book Fair invites readers to once again inhabit this space as part of the book-loving community.
From Wednesday, May 14 to Friday, May 16, the Rights Centre will return, hosting days dedicated to the buying and selling of publishing and audiovisual rights. The Lingotto Congress Center will welcome over 500 publishing professionals from around the world. Out of 414 fellowship applications (supported by ICE—the Italian Trade Agency), 70 fellows will participate in the Rights Centre’s activities.
For the 2025 edition, the guest region will be Campania and the guest country will be the Netherlands, both of which will have dedicated programming at their stands in the Oval pavilion.
As of today, the SalTo+ community has a new home: a dedicated area on the Fair’s website. Users can register or log in with previous credentials to purchase tickets, reserve spots at events, and access exclusive digital content.
The Ernesto Ferrero – Fondazione CRT Prize
The Ernesto Ferrero – Fondazione CRT Prize is a new award launched this year to highlight the most innovative editorial choices presented annually at the Turin International Book Fair. These are often bold choices that bring readers closer to literature and fill gaps in the literary landscape.
Publishing is the heart of the Book Fair. For this reason, the Turin International Book Fair and Fondazione CRT—a longstanding supporter of reading—have established this annual award, which will be given to three editorial projects (e.g., publishing houses, imprints, series, magazines) closely tied to book publishing.
The Prize will also have a strong social impact: at the end of the project, 1,200 copies of books published by the award-winning publishers will be distributed to 20 Italian organizations involved in promoting reading. These organizations will be selected via a public call, reinforcing the cultural and social value of the initiative.
