KUALA LUMPUR, 3 July 2026 – Malaysia has been chosen to host the 35th International Publishers Congress (IPA Congress 2026), marking a major milestone for the nation’s publishing industry and reinforcing its growing reputation as a regional hub for books, intellectual property and publishing innovation in Southeast Asia.
Held under the auspices of the International Publishers Association (IPA), the biennial congress is expected to attract more than 500 publishers, industry leaders, policymakers, copyright experts and book ecosystem stakeholders from around the world to discuss the issues shaping the future of global publishing.
The congress is being organised by the Malaysian Book Publishers Association (MABOPA), Perbadanan Kota Buku (Kota Buku) and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) as strategic partners, with the National Book Council of Malaysia (MBKM) serving as a supporting partner.
MABOPA President Sheikh Faisal Sheikh Mansor said Malaysia’s selection as host country reflects the confidence of the international publishing community in the nation’s ability to stage a world-class industry event.
“The International Publishers Congress is a significant recognition of Malaysia’s publishing industry. Beyond bringing together publishing professionals from across the globe, it provides a platform to forge strategic networks, strengthen rights trading and showcase Malaysian content to international markets,” he said during a press conference announcing the event today.
According to Sheikh Faisal, the congress will serve as a catalyst for cross-border collaboration, copyright and rights transactions, market expansion and internationalisation opportunities for Malaysian publishers. A key feature of IPA Congress 2026 will be its dedicated business matching programme, designed to connect publishers and industry players from different countries to explore partnerships, content development initiatives and rights trading opportunities.
The programme will bring together publishers, rights agents, authors, distributors, technology companies, educational content providers, academic institutions and industry organisations through direct business meetings. Discussions will focus on rights acquisition and sales, co-publishing opportunities, translation projects, cross-border distribution, publishing technologies and strategic investments across the publishing value chain.
Meanwhile, Kota Buku Chief Executive Officer Adibah Omar said the organisation’s involvement as a strategic partner aligns with its mission to strengthen Malaysia’s entire book ecosystem, encompassing publishers, authors, translators, printers, distributors and booksellers.
She noted that IPA Congress 2026 is expected to generate benefits beyond the publishing sector, contributing to the growth of the creative economy, business tourism, investment and international knowledge exchange.
“This congress will be a catalyst for the development of Malaysia’s book ecosystem. The presence of publishers and industry players from around the world will create new opportunities for strategic collaboration, knowledge transfer, quality content development and the international expansion of Malaysian books,” she said.
Adibah added that Kota Buku is honoured to organise the Asian Rights Fair Special Edition, a dedicated rights trading and business matching platform to be held alongside the congress. The initiative will focus on publishing rights transactions and face-to-face business meetings among international publishing professionals.
IPA Congress Adviser Mohd Khair Ngadiron said preparations are currently underway to ensure the congress meets international standards and delivers an exceptional experience for delegates. The event is expected to attract participants from publishing associations, government agencies, technology firms, digital platform providers and international organisations linked to the publishing industry.
Abang Haliman Abang Julai, Director of the Language and Literature Development Department at DBP, described the congress as a valuable opportunity to bring Malaysia’s literary heritage and the works of the nation’s leading literary figures to a global audience. He said the event would support DBP’s efforts to promote national literature through discussions on the future of publishing and cultural identity.
Meanwhile, Wan Salahudin Wan Abdullah, Senior Assistant Director of MBKM, said the collaboration among various stakeholders demonstrates the Malaysian book industry’s commitment to positioning the country as a leading publishing reference point in the region. He expressed hope that the congress would help drive a more sustainable, competitive and globally oriented publishing sector.
IPA Congress 2026 is supported by strategic partners including the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), Publishers Without Borders, Bologna Children’s Book Fair & BolognaBookPlus, MBKM, Kota Buku, DBP, USIM Press, Malaysian Scholarly Publishing Council (MAPIM), Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Publishers Weekly, Publishing Perspectives, Selangor Public Library Corporation, British Council, KLIA Ekspres, Sunway University Press, World Travel Ambassador and IBDE.
The congress has also secured sponsorship support from organisations including Sharjah Book Authority, The London Book Fair, PTS Media Group, Pelangi Publishing, Sasbadi, Vivar Printing Sdn Bhd, BookXcess and Canon.
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