The 11th International Istanbul Publishing Fellowship was held from February 10–12, 2026, at the Taşyapı Event and Congress Center in Istanbul, bringing together publishers from around the world. Organized by the Turkish Printing and Publishing Professional Union (TBYM) with the support of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, and the Introtema Copyright and Translation Agency, the event received unprecedented interest, establishing itself as one of the most significant professional publishing gatherings in the region and globally.
During this edition of the Fellowship, nearly 1,000 publishers from 104 countries applied to participate, and following an evaluation process, 335 publishers from 73 countries — including 225 international and 110 domestic publishers — were selected to attend. The Books in Persian delegation held meetings with 36 distinguished publishing houses from various countries, including Indonesia (this year’s focus country), Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and several Central and Southeast Asian nations, over the three‑day event.
These bilateral meetings, conducted in a professional setting with the aim of establishing sustainable cooperation in copyright exchange and translation rights, were met with warm reception from participating publishers.
Since the program’s inception in 2016, over 35,000 bilateral meetings and more than 25,000 preliminary copyright agreements have been conducted among publishers. Leveraging this international platform, Books in Persian presented Iran’s publishing capacities and its translated works while negotiating participation in international book fairs of neighbouring countries and the Frankfurt Book Fair with international publishing authorities in Turkey. Appointments were also arranged to continue dialogue and information exchange at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2026.
A notable highlight of this edition was the selection of Indonesia as the “focus country.” Organizing officials emphasized the importance of cooperation with Indonesian publishers, citing Indonesia’s population of 280 million and its growing publishing market. Books in Persian identified existing opportunities and outlined a long‑term cooperation plan with Indonesian publishers for mutual translation of works into Persian and Indonesian. Additionally, by participating in side events, including the “Media Match” section connecting publishers with digital platforms and content producers, the group enhanced its expertise in digital publishing and content marketing.
Emphasising the importance of maintaining year‑round communication and information exchange, Books in Persian laid the groundwork for collaboration with numerous publishers at this Fellowship. Based on the agreements reached, preparations for notable works for the next Fellowship cycle and participation in the Frankfurt Book Fair are now underway. This effective participation marks another step forward in realising Books in Persian’s vision of building a lasting bridge between cultures and literatures through multilingual publishing and cultural exchange.