Tokyo Art Book Fair 2026

The Tokyo Art Book Fair is Asia's largest fair for art books, zines and independent publishing. Its 16th edition, labelled 2026, takes place at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT) over two long weekends: 21 to 24 January and 29 to 31 January 2027. Publishers, galleries, bookshops, designers and artists from Japan and abroad fill the museum with self-published books, photobooks, risograph prints, artist books and zines, most of them sold directly by the people who made them.

About the Fair

The fair began in 2009 as a small gathering of independent publishers and grew into an event visited by tens of thousands of people. It celebrates books as a creative medium in their own right: works of art, design and photography made to be held, read and collected. Each edition includes exhibitions and talks, and a Guest Country project that introduces the publishing culture of a selected country or region.

Holding the fair at MOT, one of Tokyo's major museums of contemporary art, places independent publishing in the same space as the museum's collection and exhibitions.

What to Expect

• Hundreds of exhibitors: small presses, artists, designers, photographers, bookshops and galleries
• Zines and self-published books, often made in tiny print runs and sold only at fairs
• Photobooks from Japanese and international photographers and publishers
• Risograph and screen prints, posters and printed ephemera
• Guest Country: a special exhibition about the publishing scene of a featured country or region
• Talks, signings and exhibitions with artists, designers and editors

2026 Edition Programme

The fair runs on two separate long weekends: Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 January and Friday 29 to Sunday 31 January 2027. The museum lists hours of 10:00 to 18:00. The list of exhibitors, the Guest Country and the talks programme are announced on the official website ahead of the fair, together with admission details.

Who Is It For?

• Graphic designers and typographers interested in editorial design and printing
• Illustrators and comic artists who make zines or want to start
• Photographers working on photobooks
• Independent publishers, bookshops and collectors
• Anyone who loves books as objects

Tickets

Admission details for this edition have not been published yet. Check the official website and the museum's page before you go.

Tips for Designers and Self-Publishers

For anyone who makes printed matter, the fair is a masterclass in production. Pay attention to paper, binding, printing methods and formats: Japanese designers and printers are known for their care with materials, and many exhibitors are happy to explain how a book was made. Bring cash and a tote bag, because the most interesting things are often small and inexpensive.

If you are thinking of exhibiting at a future edition, use your visit to research. Note which tables attract crowds and why, how people price their zines and prints, and how they display a small range of work on one table. Many exhibitors also trade publications with each other at the end of the day, a good way to make friends in the community.

The Guest Country exhibition is a chance to discover a scene you may not know, from Asian and European small presses to artist-run publishers from further away.

Planning Your Visit

Look at the list of exhibitors before you go and note the tables you want to visit first, as small print runs sell out quickly on the opening day. Bring a sturdy bag, cash in small notes and some patience: aisles are narrow and popular tables draw crowds. If you can, visit on both weekends. Each one has its own atmosphere and different talks, and visiting twice lets you come back for something you could not decide on the first time. Save time for the museum's own collection and exhibitions too.

Things to Know

• Getting there: MOT is in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa; the nearest stations are Kiyosumi-shirakawa (Hanzomon and Oedo lines) and Kiba (Tozai line).
• Two weekends: each weekend may have a different mix of exhibitors, so check the list before choosing your day.
• Crowds: opening mornings are busiest; afternoons on the second weekend are usually calmer.
• Cash: many small exhibitors prefer cash.
• Neighbourhood: Kiyosumi-Shirakawa is known for its coffee shops and small galleries.

Attend the Tokyo Art Book Fair

Planning a visit?

Visit the Tokyo Art Book Fair

Exhibitors, the Guest Country, talks and admission details are on the official Tokyo Art Book Fair website.

Looking for more to see? Browse all events, festivals and exhibitions on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 19, 2026