UJE at the 32nd Lviv International BookForum Festival

For many years, Ukrainian Jewish Encounter has participated in one of the largest book events in Ukraine — the Publishers Forum in Lviv, which aims to develop the Ukrainian book market and integrate it into the global publishing context. On 3–5 October, Lviv hosted the 32nd edition of the Lviv International BookForum. This year, it was restored to its full capacity for the first time since 2021, attracting over 14,000 visitors to the Lviv Palace of Arts. The theme was "Resilience and Endurance," with a focus on literature as a force that helps people endure time, crisis, and oblivion, as well as on the book as an act of testimony, resilience, and connection between people, communities, and memory.

BookForum involved 121 publishing houses, four bookstores, four magazines, as well as printing houses, Lviv literary communities, and other businesses and entities. A brand and vintage fair was held for the first time. Ukrainian Jewish Encounter traditionally had its own book and information stand at the book fair, showcasing UJE-supported publications and books that won the Encounter Literary Prize.

Thousands of people flooded the halls, eagerly buying new books, including Ukrainian and world bestsellers, after a forced break in the book festival's operation. UJE had a team of staff at the book stand, who were happy to tell visitors about the organization's activities and the books published with its support.

More than just a book fair, BookForum featured over 300 events, including presentations, discussion panels, and poetry readings. There was also a separate program for children and teenagers. UJE organized its own events (see the program here).

The organizers estimate that BookForum attracted over 20,000 visitors at 23 locations in downtown Lviv and over 17,000 visitors online around the world. The next fair is scheduled for 10–13 September 2026.

UJE's participation in BookForum demonstrated the organization's active presence in Ukraine's cultural life and its contribution to the popularization of reading. The presentation of original publications and projects familiarized a broad audience — from youth to scholars and cultural figures — with the organization's activities, initiatives, and values, which aim to foster intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between the Ukrainian and Jewish peoples.

Vladyslav Hrynevych, Jr., Regional Manager, UJE Ukraine