Naji al-Naji, cultural advisor at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Cairo, said the turnout and level of engagement point to sustained popular interest in Palestinian culture and literature.
The pavilion’s programme this year includes seminars, literary discussions, and artistic events held at the fairgrounds and in cooperation with Egyptian cultural institutions and the Palestinian embassy’s cultural centre in Cairo, al-Naji said.
The 57th Cairo International Book Fair, held under the theme Celebrating Egyptian Identity, runs until 3 February at the Egypt International Exhibition Center.
Speaking at the fair’s opening, al-Naji said particular emphasis had been placed on the legacy of Palestinian poets and writers from Gaza, including those still living in the Strip, those based in Egypt, and those killed during the war.
He said the focus was intended to preserve cultural memory amid Israel’s war on Gaza and what he described as the systematic targeting of Palestinian cultural life.
The pavilion hosts a daily interactive programme titled Meeting with a Writer, allowing visitors to engage directly with authors whose work addresses the Palestinian cause. It also features literary, historical, and political publications on Jerusalem, refugees, prisoners, and regional geopolitics, alongside displays of Palestinian folklore and heritage arts.
Publications from the Palestinian Ministry of Culture and the General Union of Palestinian Writers and Authors are also on display. Palestinian writers are taking part in book signings and discussions spanning fiction, critical thought, and visual arts, while storytellers share Palestinian oral traditions with visitors.
The pavilion includes a dedicated section on the life and work of Palestinian poet Salim al-Naffar, who was killed in 2013, with selections from his poetry presented throughout the exhibition.
The Palestinian embassy in Cairo is organizing and participating in several events within the fair’s wider cultural programme. These include a seminar featuring Ambassador Diab al-Louh titled Post-War Gaza: A Comprehensive Vision for Reconstruction and Sustainable Development, scheduled for 25 January, and another seminar, The Role of Cultural Action and Soft Power in Supporting the Palestinian Cause, on 27 January.
Additional cultural and artistic events are being held at the Arab Atelier for Culture and Arts (Dia Gallery) in Zamalek on 24 and 29 January and in Mohandessin on 2 February. Poetry evenings are also scheduled at the House of Poetry under the Egyptian Ministry of Culture on 28, 30, and 31 January.
Separately, the embassy’s cultural centre is hosting a parallel programme that includes meetings with Palestinian writers, book signings, presentations by authors from Gaza, and readings from works by writers killed during the war.
Al-Naji said Palestine’s participation aims to counter attempts to erase Palestinian cultural identity and collective memory. He described the Cairo International Book Fair as a key platform for amplifying Palestinian voices, given Egypt’s longstanding cultural and political role in the Arab world.
This year’s fair features 1,457 publishing houses from 83 countries and includes around 400 cultural events, 100 book signings, and 120 artistic activities, with more than 170 Arab and international guests.
Naguib Mahfouz was selected as the fair’s featured literary figure, while artist Mohi El-Din El-Labbad was named the personality of the Children’s Book Fair. Romania is the guest of honour for this edition.
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