On September 4, the 54th Book Festival opens its doors at Pedion tou Areos, creating a welcoming gathering place for book lovers and reading enthusiasts of all ages. 210 publishing houses, 285 booths, more than 200 cultural events, concerts, theater performances, interactive educational activities, and many more events make up the program of the 54th Book Festival 2026.

The events scheduled for September 4, 5, 6, and 8, 2026, are organized as follows:

MAIN STAGE September 4, 2026 / 6:30 p.m.

The Book Publishers Association (SEKV), as part of the 54th Book Festival at Pedion tou Areos, is once again organizing an event dedicated to first-time poets.

The event will be moderated and hosted by author and literary critic Dr. Konstantinos Bouras.

MAIN STAGE September 5, 2026 / 6:30 p.m.

The Book Publishers Association (SEKV), as part of the 54th Book Festival at Pedion tou Areos, is organizing, in collaboration with the Greek Section of the IBBY – Greek Children’s Book Series, a roundtable discussion on the topic:

“What Is an Ex Libris? History and Contemporary Applications. The Book as an Object of Memory and Personal Identity”

The event highlights the history, artistic dimension, and contemporary applications of the ex libris, presenting it as a means of strengthening readers’ personal connection to books.

Keynotes: Illustrators Eleni Tsaldiri and Angeliki Bozou, and collector V. Zeugolis.

MAIN STAGE September 5, 2026 / 9:00 p.m.

The Book Publishers Association (SEKV), as part of the 54th Book Festival at Pedion tou Areos, is presenting the shadow puppet show:

“Karagiozis the Delivery Boy”

by the Nikola Tzivelekis Shadow Theater

A play written by the Karagiozis puppeteer Yannis Hatzis, which addresses contemporary and, at times, paradoxical working conditions. Karagiozis becomes a delivery person, using his donkey as a motorcycle, and gets caught up in all sorts of adventures as the threat of being fired looms.

“Ariés” Venue, September 6, 2026 / Sunday morning, 11:00 a.m.

The Book Publishers Association (SEKV), as part of the 54th Book Festival at Pedion tou Areos, is organizing the following workshop in collaboration with the Greek Section of the IBBY—Greek Children’s Book Circle:

“Make Your Own Ex Libris”

The workshops are designed and led by illustrators who are members of Greek IBBY. The goal is for children to learn about the concept of an ex libris and, through simple stamp-making techniques (such as engraving and other printing techniques), to design and create their own personal ex libris.

MAIN STAGE September 6, 2026 / 7:30 p.m.

The Book Publishers Association (SEKV), as part of the 54th Book Festival at Pedion tou Areos, will hold an awards ceremony honoring its member publishers in recognition of their significant and enduring contributions to the publishing industry and their valuable support for the work and activities of S.E.K.V.

The S.E.K.B. member publishers who will be honored are:

Emmanouil Angelakis

Yannis Soldatos

Pantazis Fykiris

Georgios Psyhalos

MAIN STAGE September 6, 2026 / 8:30 p.m.

The Book Publishers Association (SEKV), as part of the 54th Book Festival at Pedion tou Areos, is organizing the following concert:

“A Journey Through Time with Songs from the Screen”

Songs from film and television that defined an era, accompanied by narration by television and film composer and pianist Marios Strofalis and the promising lyricist and classical-style singer Irini Toubakis.

MAIN STAGE September 8, 2026 / 7:00 p.m.

The Book Publishers Association (SEKV), as part of the 54th Book Festival at Pedion tou Areos, is organizing, in collaboration with the Association of Parents of Children with Neoplastic Diseases, “The Flame,” an interactive event on the theme:

“Become an inventor of time yourself and leave your own unique mark”

Interactive and experiential activities led by the Association’s team of volunteer preschool teachers: Vasiliki Pappa, Ioanna Michel, Theoni Gyrti, Sofia Iordanidou, and Filitsa Kouneli.

MAIN STAGE September 8, 2026 / 8:30 p.m.

The Book Publishers Association (SEKV), as part of the 54th Book Festival at Pedion tou Areos, is organizing, in collaboration with the Organizing Committee of the Initiative for the Establishment of a National Day of Imagination, a roundtable discussion on the topic:

“Toward the Establishment of a National Day of Imagination”

At a time when Artificial Intelligence is transforming education and society, a proposal has been put forward to designate April 29 as National Imagination Day, with the aim of highlighting the importance of imagination in education, culture, and the development of 21st-century skills.

Speakers: Dr. Alexandros Stamatios Antoniou (Professor of Psychology, Department of Early Childhood Education, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Dr. Zoe Krokou (Education Consultant, PE70), Liana Denezaki (Author, Illustrator, Publisher), and invited representatives from the educational and cultural communities.

The event is held with the support of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Faculty of Early Childhood Education/NKUA) and the Institute of Organizational Psychology.