The 31st International Book Fair “Banja Luka 2026,” organized by Glas Srpske, will officially open on September 22 at 6 p.m. with an address by Matica Srpska President Dragan Stanić.
This year’s celebration of books will be marked by three major anniversaries of Serb culture.
The fair commemorates the 200th anniversary of the founding of Matica Srpska, the oldest Serb literary, cultural and scientific institution, which has preserved and connected the Serb people through the written word for two centuries.
The event will also mark 150 years since the births of two major figures of Serb literature — Borisav Bora Stanković and Milan Rakić.
Stanković explored the depths of the human soul, longing and suffering, while Rakić left a lasting mark through his refined poetry, patriotism and philosophical reflection.
Stanić: An opportunity to connect the Serb cultural space
Matica Srpska President Dragan Stanić said the Banja Luka Book Fair provides an important opportunity to view cultural cooperation beyond the ties between Republika Srpska and Serbia and to further strengthen communication throughout the broader Serb cultural space.
“The Banja Luka Book Fair is an opportunity to reaffirm this unity, to see which books have been published in different parts of the Serb cultural space and to allow everyone to choose what they want to read,” Stanić said.
At the official opening, Stanić will deliver an address titled “200 Years of Matica Srpska.”
Blagojević: The fair brings writers and readers together
Writer Berislav Blagojević said that, in addition to literary promotions, the fair provides an excellent opportunity for writers, publishers and readers to meet and interact.
“A book fair is always a good opportunity to review recent literary production, promote new publications and award-winning books, and bring writers, publishers and readers together. This year’s fair is further enriched by events that are important not only for literature, but also for culture and cultural heritage in general,” Blagojević said.
He added that the 200th anniversary of Matica Srpska and the 150th anniversaries of the births of Milan Rakić and Bora Stanković provide an excellent opportunity to remind the public of the importance of cultural institutions and literary figures in shaping national culture and cultural identity.
This year’s fair will bring together publishers, writers and book lovers, with a program featuring numerous book launches, presentations by publishing houses and institutions, literary discussions and the presentation of the fair’s annual awards.
Program for Tuesday, September 22
The 31st International Book Fair “Banja Luka 2026” will officially open at Borik Sports Hall in Banja Luka at 6 p.m. Dragan Stanić, president of Matica Srpska, will deliver the address “200 Years of Matica Srpska.”
At 7 p.m., the Serbian Ministry of Culture will present the book “March Pogrom: Causes, Destruction, Consequences, Vol. 2,” published by the Archives of Kosovo and Metohija. Professor Dejan Antić and Marko Marković, director of the Archives, will take part in the presentation.
The book “The Life and Work of Mihajlo Kijametović, Teacher and National Activist,” also published by the Archives of Kosovo and Metohija, will also be presented, with Professor Slaviša Nedeljković, Professor Miloš Đorđević and a representative of the Archives participating.
Source: Glas Srpske
