The number of visitors for this year's fair has not yet been compiled, but it has looked good on the audience side, according to Ekström.
Many feel that there have been more people than before. It has been overwhelming for both us and the visitors, he says.
Love is present
This year's themes - love and lust - have, according to the fair manager, permeated the weekend in several ways.
It's great that the romance genre has really come into the Book Fair and we've seen new audience groups. We've also had a dozen weddings, and couple therapy on stage, so love has been present in several different forms.
Ekström highlights the awarding of the Sjöjungfrun prize to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as one of the fair's major highlights.
It became a very nice conversation and the most visited program point, the queue was a kilometer long to get in.
Criticism of the fair
But sharp criticism has also been directed at this year's fair due to the participation of the Sweden-Israel Friendship Association - which, among other things, consisted of a program point with the title "The fabricated famine in Gaza".
We understand that it has aroused strong feelings. We reacted and expressed our opinion, that we thought the headings were provocative. But we were also clear that it is their program points and their decisions. They first chose to change but then changed back.
Already now, the organizer is looking at how to clarify which program points are arranged by the Book Fair, and which are arranged by other organizations, says Ekström.
So that it becomes clear who is behind what. We always evaluate and will do so now as well, to see what we can learn for next year.
What lessons do you take with you?
We cannot answer that now, it must wait until the fair has been evaluated, he says.
Maja Steen Danielsson/TT
Fact: Book Fair 2025
TT
Took place between September 25 and 28.
This year, 775 exhibitors and 3,250 participants from 35 different countries participated.
The fair consisted of 3,750 program points and 320 seminars were held.
This year's Book Fair is the 41st in order and the themes were love and lust, as well as drama.
Among this year's authors on site were Julia Quinn and Sarah MacLean, who both write in the romance genre. Also participating was Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who received the Book Fair's Sjöjungfrun prize.
Next year's themes will be Québec, popular education and games.
