CHENNAI: With the Chennai International Book Fair (CIBF) starting on January 16, organisers have projected more than 1,500 Expressions of Interest (EoIs) and translation-rights agreements, which is higher than 1,354 deals sealed in 2025.

The School Education Department has claimed that the EOI is poised to break all records as over 1,500 rights deals are expected as publishers from 102 countries are to reach Chennai.

Chandra Mohan, secretary and chairperson, CIBF’s organising committee, said that this was no longer just a book fair, but a conversation between civilisations. “In three days in January, more ideas will cross borders in Chennai than in most countries in a year,” he added. “When publishers from 102 nations sit across the table from Tamil writers and agents, something magical happens. The world discovers Tamil, and Tamil re-discovers the world. CIBF 2026 will prove that literature remains the shortest, surest route to mutual understanding between civilisations.”

For the CIBF to be held from January 16-18, publishers and literary agents from more than 102 countries across all continents have confirmed participation. Also, 90 TN publishers lead domestic participation. Additionally, 42 publishers from eight Indian states Kerala, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Telangana will participate along with 28 literary agents specially trained by the TN government.

CIBF is a unique business-to-business platform that brings together international conferences, book licensing trade shows and literary forums under one roof. Publishers, translators, and literary agents will interact directly to facilitate book licensing exchanges and cultural and literary exchanges.

CIBF to be held at Kalaivanar Arangam from January 16-18. Register at www.chennaiinternationalbookfair.com