The 2026 Shanghai Book Fair, running from August 12 to 18, is drawing reading enthusiasts from across China while unveiling AI-powered experiences at its dual main venues, the Shanghai Exhibition Center and Shanghai Book Mall.
This year's fair sets a new record with 1,420 reading events — a 12.1 percent increase from 2025 — transforming traditional book exhibitions into immersive cultural encounters.
One of the most anticipated events will take place on Saturday afternoon when Mo Yan, winner of the Nobel Prize in literature, will introduce his new short-story collection, Ren Na (Being Human), at the Shanghai Exhibition Center.
It is his first book in six years and marks the author's return to the Shanghai Book Fair after 14 years.
The 71-year-old writer, one of the most translated contemporary Chinese authors, is best known for his novel Red Sorghum, the film adaptation of which won the Golden Bear at the 38th Berlin International Film Festival.
Mo won the Nobel Prize in 2012 for work that "with hallucinatory realism merges folk tales, history and the contemporary".
According to Dook Media Group, publisher of the collection, the new volume features 81 tightly crafted pieces, the shortest comprising just 71 Chinese characters. "Despite their brevity, they leave a lasting impact," according to the publisher. "The words are minimal, yet carry immense force."
Dook Media Group opened reservations for the Saturday event on the evening of Aug 9. All 770 slots were filled in a short time.
Mo Yan's appearance is also part of Shanghai International Literary Week, an integral component of the fair. This year's program brings together overseas authors from 12 countries and regions for lectures, panel discussions and book-sharing sessions from Aug 11 to 17.
Among them is Jeanette Winterson from Britain, whose debut novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, has enjoyed enduring popularity in China since its Chinese edition was first published in 2010. Winterson introduced her book Love, newly released in Chinese at Sinan Books on Aug 12.
Also presenting a new title is renowned Australian cinematographer Christopher Doyle, best known for his collaborations with Hong Kong-based director Wong Kar-wai. Doyle's book, published by China CITIC Press, is a collection of essays complemented by more than 100 photographs documenting his life, career and reflections on art, film and creativity.
Heilongjiang province is the fair's guest of honor this year — the first time the northeastern province has been featured at Shanghai Book Fair. Heilongjiang has brought 3,460 book titles and 74 journals to the event, including landmark works such as A General History of Heilongjiang and Chi Zijian's novel The Last Quarter of the Moon.
The province is also showcasing its diverse ethnic cultures and tourism resources. Visitors can explore 68 intangible cultural heritage items, including Hezhe fish-skin paintings and Daur embroidery, says Zhao Fuyi, head of the Heilongjiang Provincial Press and Publication Bureau. Interactive DIY sessions allow guests to create personalized souvenirs, while a Heilongjiang delicacies zone offers local favorites such as Wuchang rice, birch sap and Modern-branded popsicles.
Technology marks another highlight of this year's fair as organizers introduce an AI agent that powers an online smart consultation platform, responding to audience inquiries in real time.
"Whether it's ticketing and entry, event schedules, exhibitor directories, book information, or transportation routes and on-site facilities, visitors can get quick answers," says Zeng Yuan, head of the printing and distribution division of Shanghai's publicity department.
