Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam inaugurated the 66th edition of the Beirut Arab International Book Fair, organised by the Arab Cultural Club, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Beirut Seaside Arena, in the presence of prominent political and cultural figures.

In his keynote address to the audience, Salam said: “I stand before you today at the opening of the Beirut Arab International Book Fair to greet you in the name of the word that builds, the idea that liberates and the reading that opens doors to broader horizons of understanding and openness.”

He added:“Today marks the launch of the 66th edition of this fair, which has become a well-established tradition celebrating the written word and the book—reflecting Beirut’s cultural pulse, intellectual legacy and its historic role as a venerable capital of knowledge and creativity. The fair continues its presence as an annual cultural event that reaffirms that the future of nations is built on thought, that culture is the most impactful investment in the service of humanity, and that it is the true guarantee of a people’s presence, unity and progress.”

According to the organisers, the number of publishing houses participating in this year’s edition continues to rise compared to recent years, which were impacted by Lebanon’s economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Salwa Siniora Baasiri, President of the Arab Cultural Club, which has been organising the Beirut book fair since 1956, said 134 publishing houses are taking part in this year’s edition, including several from Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and the Arab World Institute in Paris, in addition to local publishers.

Baasiri noted that the previous reluctance of Arab publishing houses to participate was largely due to “security concerns, as conditions in Lebanon were, until recently, not conducive to such a presence.” She added, however, that “everyone now feels there is a different atmosphere.”

Fatima Al Rayes, head of Riyad Al Rayes Books, noted that “while readers have long shown interest in novels and poetry, there is now a growing inclination towards books that address intellectual and political issues.” Political works make up 80% of the publications by Dar Saer Al Mashrek, which, for example, hosted the signing of a new book by researcher Mohammed Abdul Jalil Ghezayel during the fair’s opening. The book explores “the role of the Prime Minister in shaping national identity and leading political and economic reforms,” she explained.

Meanwhile, law professor and author Nada Chaoul pointed out that “the Arab Book Fair is more deeply influenced by political and sociological developments and engages more directly with current events.”

This edition is distinguished by its emphasis on specialised art exhibitions—six in total—including one that highlights “the cultural and intellectual role of the city of Tripoli,” another that traces the evolution of cinema in Lebanon through film posters, and a third that revisits key milestones in the exhibition’s history since its inception. Additionally, one exhibition focuses on caricatures related to Gaza.

Recognising that “culture is multifaceted, encompassing art, music, writing, composition and poetry”, the fair has enriched its programme with a series of musical performances, including a concert by French-Lebanese pianist Abdel Rahman El Bacha, held in honour of the birth centenary of his father, composer Tawfiq El Bacha.