The fair recorded around 467,512 visitors on its seventh day alone, Wednesday, 28 January, bringing total attendance since its opening to almost 3.03 million, the Ministry of Culture said in a statement.
Hanno said the unprecedented turnout reflects the fair’s regional and international standing, adding that a wide range of cultural and artistic events will continue until the fair closes on 3 February.
He noted that the programme is designed to appeal to different age groups and to reinforce the role of culture in building public awareness.
The minister described the Cairo International Book Fair as a unifying platform for diverse cultural currents and a key showcase for Egyptian, Arab, and international creativity.
He also praised the organization of this year’s edition and the variety of its events and programmes, thanking all institutions and staff involved in staging the fair.
The 57th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair is being held under the patronage of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi from 21 January to 3 February at the Egypt International Exhibition and Conference Centre in New Cairo.
The fair is held under the slogan “Whoever stops reading for an hour falls behind for centuries,” with Romania as the guest of honor and Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz as its featured personality.
As part of efforts to broaden public access to culture, Hanno launched the “A Library for Every Home” initiative alongside the opening of the 57th edition.
The initiative offers around 1,000 book titles grouped into 50 cultural bundles sold at symbolic, heavily reduced prices, drawing on the Ministry of Culture’s publishing catalogue and existing stocks of valuable works that had not previously reached readers.
Under the scheme, visitors can purchase a bundle of 20 books for no more than EGP 100 at the General Egyptian Book Organization's (GEBO) discounted pavilion.
According to the ministry, the titles are organized into four main bundles targeting different audiences, including adults, youth, and children, as well as a periodicals bundle featuring 10 issues of magazines and journals published by the GEBO.
Marking the selection of Naguib Mahfouz as the fair’s personality of the year, a special Mahfouz-themed bundle has also been introduced, comprising 15 critical and artistic works examining his literary legacy and offered at a nominal price.
The 57th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair was inaugurated last Wednesday by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Hanno.
Running until 3 February, it is the largest edition in the fair’s history, featuring 1,457 publishing houses from 83 countries, 6,637 exhibitors, more than 400 cultural and intellectual events, 100 book-signing ceremonies, and 120 artistic performances. The fair also features the participation of some 170 Arab and international guests and over 1,500 writers, thinkers, and creators from Egypt and abroad.
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