“The cancellation of the Leipzig Book Fair is a heavy blow for the industry. The fair would have been very important for the book and everyone who lives for it and from it. Now the publishers and their authors are once again missing that long-awaited stage,” said Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, head of the German Book Trade Association, in the statement. In contrast to the previous year, the fair does not want to offer a digital replacement program. Only the Prize for European Understanding and the Prize of the Leipzig Book Fair will be awarded as planned on March 16th and 17th as part of an online stream.
The reason for the cancellation of the Leipzig Book Fair is the ongoing corona pandemic. A few days ago, the organization team was still optimistic, since the latest Corona Protection Ordinance of the State of Saxony would have allowed a major event with visitors – provided the 2G-Plus rule (vaccinated or recovered and additionally tested) was observed. However, numerous publishers and other exhibitors have now canceled their participation. The companies would have problems finding staff for the trade fair appearance or feared numerous absences after infections.