Romania has been granted the status of special guest country at the Cairo International Book Fair 2026, the Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday via Facebook.

‘Celebrating National Culture goes hand in hand with recognising our contribution to the universal cultural heritage. We are excited to announce that, due to the joint efforts of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Romanian Embassy in Cairo, Romania will be the special guest country at the Cairo International Book Fair 2026, the year in which we will also mark and celebrate 120 years of Romanian-Egyptian diplomatic relations,’ ministry representatives point out.

According to the quoted source, the announcement was made by the Egyptian Minister of Culture, Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, during a press conference dedicated to the launch of the 2025 edition of the fair. This event attracts millions of visitors annually, and Romania was represented by the Romanian Ambassador to Egypt, Olivia Toderean, who conveyed official thanks for this unique opportunity.

At this year’s edition of the Cairo International Book Fair, Romania is participating with an exhibition stand organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the Faculty of Foreign Languages of the University of Bucharest, the Romanian Cultural Institute, and the Romanian Embassy in Cairo.

The Cairo Book Fair, now in its 56th edition, is the largest event of its kind in the Middle East and Africa. Romania’s participation reaffirms its position in the international cultural elite. In 2024, the fair registered over 3.5 million participants, further solidifying its cultural impact and dimension.