Helsinki Book Fair draws record crowds as readers seek thoughtful debate

More than 112,000 people attended the four-day Helsinki Book Fair, a record, according to Yle. Attendance rose by more than 7 per cent from last year, and professionals say visitors are drawn to in-depth thinking, personal encounters and slower-paced content.

The fair grew for the fifth consecutive year and had a record programme, with 17 stages and more than 2,000 speakers. Since 2023, it has attracted more visitors than the Gothenburg Book Fair, traditionally the Nordic region’s largest event of its kind.

Social and political issues drew interest

Sales at publisher Gummerus’s stand rose 38 per cent from last year. Aleksi Pöyry, who oversees Finnish fiction and digital books at the publisher, said the fair’s sales could signal a strong finish to the year. The Finnish Commerce Federation says Christmas sales can account for as much as 40 per cent of annual book sales.

The best-selling book at the stand was Timo R. Stewart’s “Why Does Nobody Do Anything? Reflections on the Destruction of Gaza”. Pöyry said books give readers a chance to step away from the constant news flow and form their own views about events in the world.

He said a discussion about the United States on Saturday afternoon filled the large Hakaniemi stage, including standing room. The speakers were author Juha Itkonen, whose book “Your America” has just been published, and Jukka Valtasaari, a former ambassador to Washington.

Visitors valued human connection and ideas

Henriika Tulivirta, a library professional and reading advocate, said meeting other people was a highlight of the fair. She said the event’s popularity challenges claims that people are losing interest in books and the ability to concentrate.

Tulivirta noted that public libraries are also setting visitor records. Last year, they recorded nearly 90 million loans, most of them printed books. She said people may be looking for a slower alternative to fast-moving digital content, adding that she saw no demand for artificial intelligence content at the fair.

Yle literary journalist Anna Tulusto said readers were interested in books and authors’ ideas. She interviewed this year’s international guest of honour, French writer Édouard Louis, and later watched him discuss the anger felt by young men before signing books for more than an hour.

Tulusto said books are the result of a long process of thought, making conversations about them compelling. She also observed more non-book merchandise, including clothing and jewellery, for sale than in previous years.