ASEAN Penang Book Fair Eyes 350,000 Visitors As Event Goes International
GEORGE TOWN, July 4 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Penang Book Fair and Unity Calligraphy Carnival 2026 is targeting some 350,000 physical and online visitors over its four-day run, from yesterday until July 6 at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre.
Programme coordinator Azizah Zainol said the target is well within reach, citing a massive turnout on day one that forced organisers to split entry and exit points to ease congestion.
"The response has been overwhelming. Visitors have been pouring in non-stop, so we had to separate the entrance and exit to keep things moving," she told Bernama at the venue Saturday.
She added that this year's edition is the largest yet, marking the first time the fair has been elevated to the ASEAN level, drawing authors, publishers and participants from across the region.
Beyond Malaysia, the fair features representatives from Indonesia, Singapore, as well as participants from China and Taiwan, adding further depth to the event’s lineup.
Azizah said 10 to 15 prominent local and international authors have been specially brought in for fan engagement sessions through the "Bicara Buku" (Book Talk) sessions and other activities.
She noted that over 150 participants and exhibitors are taking part, including 46 entries for the Unity Calligraphy Festival.
"This edition is bigger because we've embraced the ASEAN concept, while also giving space to Nusantara writers, especially from Indonesia, who have a strong following in Penang and the northern states," she said.
She added that activities throughout the fair include Book Talk sessions, book launches, colouring contests, Kahoot quizzes, cupcake baking competitions, science quizzes, podcasts, calligraphy exhibitions, cultural performances and programmes with government agencies and higher education institutions.
Four stages are running simultaneously from 10 am to 10 pm to host the various activities, with night-time programmes centred on the main stage, she said.
Bernama’s observation showed that visitors to the ASEAN Penang Book Fair 2026 still prefer physical books over online platforms, despite digital channels offering greater speed and reach.
The lively fair atmosphere and hands-on browsing experience remain major draws, with some visitors happily spending hundreds of ringgit.
Married couple Mohamad Rozan Radzi, 36, and Suhaila Akma Abdul Hamid, 35, brought their two children, aged seven and ten, and spent nearly RM300 on workbooks and novels.
Suhaila Akma said the experience, including meeting authors, makes it far more rewarding than online shopping, adding that prices are also lower, with discounts up to 70 per cent.
"This is our first time bringing the kids, and the atmosphere is completely different. You can browse up close, choose on the spot, and even meet the authors. The children are thrilled," said the Bayan Lepas engineer.
Another visitor, V. Kartikh, 40, travelled from Sungai Petani, Kedah, with his wife and three children, solely because all his children prefer physical books over digital ones.
"I saw an ad on Facebook a few days ago, and since it was the weekend, we decided to come and check it out," he said.
-- BERNAMA
