The 7th Tehran Virtual Book Fair, carrying the slogan “Read for Iran,” is set to begin tomorrow, May 16, and will run until May 23. This year, the event aims to offset a stagnant publishing market through purchase incentives and broad publisher participation.
According to officials, approximately 2,296 domestic publishers have registered for the fair. Information for more than 80% of the books has already been uploaded to the official system, allowing audiences to search and purchase from a vast catalog.
Organizers have stated that shipping will be free for up to two packages per National ID number. Publishers who delay shipping will be considered in violation of regulations and subject to fines.
In the international section, 19 foreign publishers have expressed readiness to participate. For the first time, a dedicated section for digital publishers has also been added to the fair’s structure.
Despite the “fair” title, organizers emphasize that the event has evolved into an online sales platform rather than a traditional exhibition, with the primary goal of stimulating the publishing market and supporting the book economy. Cultural officials have framed the mission of the fair as “increasing cultural justice and creating social vitality.”
