FRANKFURT, GERMANY – Frankfurt will once again become the heart of the global literary world as the 77th Frankfurter Buchmesse opens its doors from 15 to 19 October 2025. Known as the world’s largest international marketplace for rights, licensing, and ideas, this year’s fair carries particular resonance: the Philippines has been named Guest of Honour, making it only the second Southeast Asian nation to be given this spotlight after Indonesia in 2015
With the theme “The imagination peoples the air,” inspired by Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere,” the Philippines will showcase the depth of its storytelling traditions across its 7,641 islands and 135 languages. More than 100 Filipino authors, poets, and creatives are set to participate in over 65 literary events within the fairgrounds, alongside additional cultural programmes in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Heidelberg.
At the heart of the presentation is the Philippine Guest of Honour Pavilion, designed by Stanley Ruiz. Conceived as a “walkable archipelago,” the pavilion features island-like modules built with sustainable materials such as bamboo and pineapple fibre. It will host book launches, debates, performances, and art projections, with stages named the Proscenium and the Arena providing ample space for dialogue and creativity.
This year’s Buchmesse takes place amid intensifying geopolitical tensions, positioning literature not just as cultural expression but also as a forum for global debate. The newly established Centre Stage in Hall 4.1 will host “Frankfurt Calling – Perspectives on Culture and Politics,” featuring conversations on human rights, freedom of expression, artificial intelligence, and democracy under pressure. Confirmed speakers include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and Palestinian bookseller Mahmoud Muna.
.The Philippine program will highlight a wide spectrum of themes from post-colonialism and diaspora literature to climate fiction, queer writing, and FlipTop, the country’s celebrated rap battle league. Performances by the Philippine Madrigal Singers, a UNESCO-recognised choir, will punctuate the schedule with music. Key literary voices include Jose Dalisay, Patricia Evangelista, Katrina Tuvera, Mina Esguerra, and internationally renowned producer Tanya Yuson (Trese, Netflix)
Beyond the fairgrounds, the “Jeepney Journey” will bring Philippine culture into Frankfurt’s city centre, transforming an iconic jeepney into a stage for workshops and performances at Rossmarkt Square. Complementing this are exhibitions on Philippine architecture, photography, film, and contemporary art, including a major showcase of Stephanie Comilang’s work at the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt
The Buchmesse also remains a vital hub for the publishing industry. AI in publishing, audiobooks, and webtoons are among the focal points of the 2025 trade programme. CEOs from Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Bonnier, and Simon & Schuster will participate in discussions on the industry’s future. The Frankfurt Rights Meeting will emphasise Spanish-speaking markets, while the fully booked Literary Agents & Scouts Centre reaffirms the fair’s role as a global nexus for rights trading
Special attention will also be given to diversity in publishing, with the international network PublisHer leading talks on female empowerment and equity in the industry. Meanwhile, the Frankfurt Kids Conference, headlined by The Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler, will tackle the theme “Children’s Books in a Fragile World,” addressing both literacy promotion and censorship
While the trade audience drives much of the week, the fair also caters to the public. From New Adult and Fantasy fandoms to BookTok trends and comics culture, the Festhalle and Hall 1.2 will welcome bestselling authors like Cassandra Clare, V.E. Schwab, and Abby Jimenez. Families will enjoy the Frankfurt Kids Festival, with astronaut Matthias Maurer joining children for a simulated journey to space
As Juergen Boos, Director of the Frankfurter Buchmesse, notes “In times of global tension, we need spaces for exchange, listening and cooperation more than ever before. Our mission is to connect people – as an international marketplace for rights and licensing, a stage for social debate, and a festival of compelling stories. In Frankfurt, we celebrate books and the power of dialogue across all borders.”
This year, that mission finds powerful expression in the Philippines’ imaginative and multifaceted presence, amplifying voices from Southeast Asia while underscoring the universal truth that stories remain one of humanity’s strongest bridges across borders.
