A lesson staring us in the face. Imagine book fairs in the US and UK and Europe that ran through our festival periods.

Tunisia Transforms Capital’s Grand Boulevard Into Winter Literary Hub

The 14th Tunis City Book Fair has converted central Tunis’s iconic Habib Bourguiba Avenue into an open-air literary marketplace, with the event running from 18 December 2025 until 3 January 2026. More than 80 Tunisian publishing houses are presenting over 30,000 titles across literature, humanities and general knowledge, with discounts of up to 50 per cent available throughout the seventeen-day programme.

Professional participation and industry support

Organised by the Regional Delegation for Cultural Affairs, the Municipality of Tunis and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the fair has established itself as a significant platform for domestic publishers.

The Tunisian Publishers’ Union is among the key institutional partners, reflecting the event’s role in supporting the local book industry. The Avenue Habib-Bourguiba location – opposite the Municipal Theatre – places publishing houses directly in the capital’s commercial and civic heart, offering unparalleled public access compared with conventional exhibition centre venues.

Cultural programming attracts 130 contributors

A dedicated cultural tent hosts workshops, panel discussions and literary encounters featuring approximately 130 writers, poets, researchers and intellectuals. The programme addresses contemporary themes including philosophy, artificial intelligence and the influence of global cultures on Tunisia’s literary landscape. This emphasis on professional dialogue positions the fair as more than a retail opportunity; it serves as a forum for editorial debate and cultural policy discussion.

Regional focus drives national cultural strategy

The 2025–26 edition spotlights two governorates – Kebili in the south and Siliana in the north-west – as guests of honour. Through exhibitions, meetings and performances, the initiative advances Tunisia’s cultural decentralisation policy by connecting regional voices with the capital’s publishing ecosystem.

Founded in 2012, the City Book Fair complements the larger Tunis International Book Fair (scheduled for 23 April–3 May 2026 at Kram Exhibition Palace) by prioritising accessibility and urban integration.

The View From The Beach

For publishing professionals, the event offers insight into Tunisia’s domestic market dynamics, reader engagement strategies and the government’s approach to sustaining literary culture amid economic challenges.

There’s also a lesson staring us in the face. Imagine book fairs in the US and UK and Europe that ran through our festival periods.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.