The London Book Fair kicks off in under a week (18-20 April 2023), an event where creators of stories from around the world come together to showcase their work and connect with publishers. It’s the heart of the publishing world, where people can meet, network, and do business. We’re looking forward to joining 25,000 attendees – and becoming a part of the story.
Ahead of this highly anticipated event, the Zzish and Quizalize team has curated a list of 5 things you must know before attending the LBF 2023. If you’re also attending the LBF 23, why don’t we grab a coffee (or Yorkshire tea)? Set up a chat today with us! Pick a day and time here.
1. Who will be the speakers for this year’s London Book Fair?
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, international bestselling author Kate Mosse and famed crime writer Anne Cleeves have been announced as key speakers for the 2023 London Book Fair. Khan will discuss his new book ‘Breathe: Tackling the Climate Emergency’. Mosse will be conversing with Louise Minchin on April 20th to discuss her new book, The Ghost Ship. Twice Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead, author of The Nickel Boys and the named International Author of this year’s Fair, is another notable addition to the list of speakers.
The London Book Fair will offer attendees the opportunity to hear from a range of influential figures in the literary world from both the UK and around the globe.
2. London Book Fair – Charity of the year 2023
The London Book Fair has always supported a wide variety of book-related charities. From marketing to brand exposure, the event has an array of support and for 2023, the chosen charity of the year is ‘Street Child’. The charity is dedicated to providing mental health and educational resources to children facing crises worldwide. You can find out more or make donations by accessing their website here.
3. A Spotlight on Ukraine
The London Book Fair 2023 is shining a spotlight on Ukraine with a series of events in partnership with the Ukrainian Book Institute, English PEN, The Publishers Association (PA), the International Publishers Association (IPA), and the British Council. The seminar programme will feature conversations on various topics, such as the impact of war on Ukrainian writers, the role of books in the fight against disinformation and democracy, the significance of women’s voices in these discussions, and writing from the front line. In addition, attendees can visit stand number 2B01 to explore the diverse range of contemporary Ukrainian publishing.
4. Which Conferences to attend this year on LBF23
From copyright and licensing to diversity and inclusion. ‘Introduction to Rights’ conference is a pre-event for the London Book Fair, aimed at newcomers to learn how to sell creative content. Experts cover contracts, copyright, and licensing. ‘The Writers’ Summit’ conference offers tips and advice for writers seeking to get noticed by agents, publishers, and readers, featuring talks from successful authors on topics like polishing book pitches and the value of agents. Finally, on the last day, ‘The Research and Scholarly Publishing Forum’ explores diversity and inclusion in STM publishing, libraries policies, Web3 technologies, and the SDG Publishers Compact.
5. Three days and 100 conferences
The London Book Fair’s seminar programme offers over 100 sessions across all three days. It covers key publishing industry topics curated by partners, sponsors and a call for speaker submissions, from publishers starting their publishing journey to experienced companies wanting to update themselves about trends for 2023.
With so much to see, we recommend marking 5-10 ‘must have’ events in your diary before you step through the door! Use these as an anchor, with time slots for pre-booked meetings and breaks from on-stage content (find a time to see us here). Finally, allocate dedicated time in your calendar to explore the stands and see what’s new in publishing for 2023. Find the full list of conferences here.
The Zzish and Quizalize teams are looking forward to meeting you in London. We’ll be there in the heart of the Fair to share our expertise in digital transformation for publishers with our groundbreaking Quizalize learning tools. Will we see you there? Let us know if you’re coming to grab a coffee (or Yorkshire tea) with us.
Matthew Jordan
Director of Partnerships
matt@zzish.com – Zzish, the force behind Quizalize.