The Fall National Book Festival, held last weekend, adds another vibrant chapter to Mongolia's rich literary tradition. Since its debut in 2007, the festival has transformed from a modest gathering of 80 people into a major cultural event, now celebrated nationwide in both autumn and spring. 

🎪 A Literary Wonderland

Held in the heart of Ulaanbaatar at Sukhbaatar Square, the festival features over 300 tents where book enthusiasts, publishers, and authors gather for three days of literary immersion. With more than 200 publishers and 300 authors, including distinguished guests from 10 countries, the festival offers a diverse array of activities, engaging over 30,000 attendees each year. 

🫂 A New Generation of Readers

The festival’s popularity continues to surge, with more than 180,000 visitors from Mongolia and abroad flocking to the event annually. Research shows that 95% of attendees purchase books, with 83.3% buying multiple volumes. Remarkably, 75.4% of participants are young people aged 15 to 35, including nearly half who are elementary school students, highlighting the festival’s role in cultivating a new generation of readers. 

🤵 Government Endorsement and Support

The Mongolian government demonstrates its commitment to literature by setting the goal of becoming the "Book Capital of the World" in 2011. The festival is officially recognized as "National Book Day" by presidential decree in 2012, and in 2021, it was enshrined in law by Parliament, ensuring continued national support and growth. Let’s take a glimpse of the book market in Mongolia.👇  

🔢 By the Numbers

Overall, 30% of all books sold are imported, with one-third of these being children’s books. Annually, between 750,000 and 900,000 books are sold at an average price of ₮15,000 each, resulting in approximately ₮10 billion spent on books each year.