The London Book Fair drew its 2026 edition to a close at Olympia on Thursday, concluding what has been a record-breaking gathering of the global publishing industry.
“The final day of the London Book Fair has been a wonderful celebration of the people and ideas that will shape the future of publishing,” said Emma Lowe, Director of the London Book Fair. “It’s been an incredibly successful few days here at Olympia and we’re proud to have brought together the global publishing community once again. Today is also a bittersweet occasion as we say goodbye, it has been a wonderful venue for many years. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the next chapter of the Fair.”
This year’s Fair welcomed 1,005 exhibitors and more than 33,000 visitors across its three days, with the final session marking the last to be held at Olympia before the event moves to a new home. The closing day placed a particular emphasis on the future of the industry – its talent pipeline, its technology and its responsibilities – while the International Rights Centre continued to hum with activity, sealing significant deals for books by Idris Elba, Mike Gayle and Mishal Husain, among others.
Academic publishing took centre stage in the morning’s proceedings. Monica Westin of Cambridge University Press led a session examining the evolving role of academic publishers in supporting global research communities and ensuring the long-term viability of scholarly knowledge. On the Main Stage, Jill Luber, Chief Technology Officer of Elsevier, delivered a keynote on designing a sustainable research system, bringing together publishers, institutions and policymakers to consider how more resilient models for academic research and its dissemination might be built.
Author of the Day A.F. Steadman, creator of the bestselling Skandar series, appeared on the Main Stage alongside The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Minister of State for Media, Tourism and the Creative Industries. In conversation with Hannah Bull of The Alligator’s Mouth bookshop, the pair discussed storytelling, creativity and the place of books within the UK’s broader creative economy — a timely exchange as the government’s interest in the cultural and commercial weight of publishing continues to grow.
Author HQ hosted a varied and pointed programme throughout the day. A session on non-fiction explored how writers of ideas shape public debate; a panel entitled “Mission Impossible? Protecting Authors’ Rights in the Age of AI” addressed one of the most pressing questions facing the industry; and “Publishing Pathways” offered writers a frank survey of the many routes to publication now available.
The day’s Main Stage programme concluded with “Trailblazers: How to Get into Publishing”, a panel that brought industry professionals together to share practical guidance with students and early-career aspirants. The session featured the winners of the Trailblazer Awards 2026, celebrating emerging talent entering the trade. Complementing this, the National Literacy Trust hosted a special event pairing publishing volunteers with students exploring careers in the sector, giving young people direct access to professionals and a clearer picture of the roles the industry offers.
The International Rights Centre was active throughout the Fair. Below is a selection of the deals announced across all three days.
Day One
-
Hodder & Stoughton acquired three new historical thrillers from global bestseller Conn Iggulden.
-
Batsford signed Tiny Animal Kingdom, the new colouring book from bestseller Millie Marotta.
-
Simon & Schuster acquired Amy Barry’s four-book series, with rights sold into 22 territories.
-
Sphere bought journalist Moya Lothian-McLean’s debut romantic comedy Matchmakers.
-
Zaffre won Nick Brucker’s Vatican-set heist novel White Smoke in a six-figure, seven-publisher auction.
-
Penguin Michael Joseph acquired world English rights to Dr Federica Amati’s The Appetite Reset.
-
The Miniaturist author Jessie Burton moved to Phoenix in a two-book deal.
-
Transworld acquired Manifesting Love, the latest title from self-development coach Roxie Nafousi.
-
Doubleday acquired Nick Bradley’s third novel, The Second Life of Professor Takahashi.
-
Oxford Children’s signed Scaredy Cat, the debut picture book from Marv series author Alex Falase-Koya.
-
Bluebird and One Boat won an 11-way auction for Dr Emily Prpa’s debut Eat Like a Woman.
-
MasterChef: The Professionals judge Monica Galetti moved to Pavilion for Gathering.
-
Macmillan and Bedford Square Publishers secured Games of My Life, Alex Ferguson’s first autobiography in 13 years.
-
Faber acquired the second novel in David Peace’s Manchester United-themed Munich trilogy, Strangeways.
-
UK’s bestselling poet of the 2020s, Donna Ashworth, signed with Hay House in a multi-six-figure auction for her first prose-featuring collection.
-
August Books acquired ITV News UK editor Paul Brand’s assisted dying book Fight to the Death.
Day Two
-
William Collins acquired a memoir from Hollywood super-agent Ari Emanuel, CEO of WME parent TKO Group Holdings.
-
Simon & Schuster secured UK rights to three thrillers co-authored by Idris Elba and screenwriter Adam Handy.
-
Wildfire acquired world all-language rights, including film and TV, to Two Truths and a Lie by Chris Bridges.
-
DK Children’s will publish the debut children’s book by broadcaster Mishal Husain.
-
Faber acquired Joan Barfoot’s 1978 novel Gaining Ground.
-
Manilla Press pre-empted Rebecca Hooper’s debut.
-
HQ acquired the debut joint novel by Mike Gayle and his wife Claire, described as “the world’s first middle-age body-swap romcom”.
-
Ken Follett signed another global English-language deal with Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group for his next novel, The Deep and Secret Things.
-
Penguin Michael Joseph pre-empted Lou Morgan’s adult romance debut, For All This Time.
-
Pan Macmillan will publish the life story of designer Paul Smith, co-written with journalist Richard Williams.
-
Weidenfeld & Nicolson won an 11-publisher auction for the English translation of Maria Niskavaara’s award-winning novel.
-
HarperVoyager signed a six-figure pre-empt for three new books from Nibbles winner Saara El-Arifi.
-
Picador acquired Niamh Mulvey’s Patricia Highsmith-inspired novel.
Day Three
-
Wildfire acquired world all-language rights to How to Erase a Woman by comedian Ria Lina, a sharp account of how innovative women have been erased from history.
-
David Fickling Books signed two debut authors from its 2025 Search for a Storyteller competition: When the Birds Wake Up by Jessica Mary Ellis and A Scrap of Moss and Magick by Helen Parry.
-
Joël Dicker hired WME as his literary agents — the first time The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair author has had literary representation.
-
HarperVoyager acquired two adult fantasy novels from Shannon Chakraborty in a seven-figure world all-language two-book deal.
-
Batsford will publish artist and home-styling sensation Java Bere’s debut, Your Space, Your Story.
-
Bluebird acquired world rights to The Seven Rules of Highly Destructive People by Abi Feltham.
-
Sceptre acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Public Access Afterworld, the debut “queer opus” by writer and film-maker Jane Schoenbrun.
-
Summit Books UK acquired Every Exit Brings You Home by Palestinian-Irish writer and Booker longlistee Naeem Murr.
-
John Murray won a 10-way auction for Stephanie Bain’s Restoration dramedy Wits.
-
Hodderscape acquired two fantasy novels from award-winning YA author Anna Sei Lin in a five-way auction.
-
Hay House won a competitive auction for the latest title from sober-curious advocate Millie Gooch.
The London Book Fair 2027 venue and dates are to be announced. For further information visit www.londonbookfair.co.uk
•Featured image: Emma Lowe, Director of the London Book Fair (LBF2026)
•Other images courtesy of https://asunolivanphotography.pixieset.com
