Tamil Books Go Global: Foreign Publishers Show Strong Interest

The Chennai International Book Fair 2026 has become a significant hub for international literary exchange, with publishers from France, South Korea, and Spain showing keen interest in translating Tamil books. This includes classical works like Tirukkural and Bharathiar's poems, alongside contemporary fiction. The fair successfully facilitated 1,830 expressions of interest, highlighting a strong global demand for Tamil literature.

French literary teacher Laticia Ibanez noted the growing translation of modern Tamil authors into French, while also expressing French publishers' interest in translating award-winning novels into Tamil. Similarly, Vivian Lavin, a literary agent from Chile, plans to translate Spanish children's literature and non-fiction, including works by Nobel laureate Gabriela Mistral, into Tamil.

Organizers reported that 1,273 agreements were signed to translate Tamil books into other languages, and 260 agreements to bring foreign language books into Tamil. The fair, described as Asia's fastest-growing international book fair, aims to convert these agreements into published books, further expanding the reach of Tamil and global literature.