The PLPL small and medium-sized publishing fair celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth by dedicating the event’s theme to her, “REASONS AND FEELINGS”. This is an explicit reference to the novel that paved the way for modern fiction.
The first piece of good news is that reading has grown across all age groups over the past 10 years. The bad news is that over 15 million Italians have not read a single book, e-book, or listened to an audiobook in the previous 12 months. In the South in particular, where 34% of the Italian population lives, readers account for only 30% of the total. In short, readers are increasing, but people are reading less often.
NUMBERS
The fair, now well into its teens, will take place as usual at the Nuvola in Rome from Thursday, December 4th to Monday, December 8th. Five days dedicated to books and reading, this event features 604 exhibitors from across Italy, 757 events, and writers from around the world, representing a total of 569 publishers. The Fair gives voice and space to small and medium-sized publishing houses, which in Italy published 51,915 new titles in 2024, up 0.9% from the previous year and representing 60.4% of the total publishing offering. There are 5,349 micro, small, and medium-sized publishing houses active in Italy.
A wide array of writers, translators, journalists, and scholars will take turns sharing their own and others’ passion for one of the greatest writers ever, and more. A wide selection of book presentations and themed conferences will fill the Nuvola’s numerous rooms with national and international authors, publishers, journalists, and entertainment personalities. On its inauguration day, the conference center welcomed approximately 10,000 students from all over Italy and abroad, who brought a lively atmosphere to the fair.
The small and medium-sized publishing market has contracted to 1.98% compared to last year, and all €60 million has been spent on libraries. However, given the challenging economic climate, industry professionals are calling for targeted industrial policies, especially in light of the latest technologies of the now pervasive AI. In any case, the Italian publishing industry is looking confidently to the end of 2025 and 2026.
TEN BEST-SELLING STOCKS IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF 2025 – GENERAL
1. L’ultimo segreto, D. Brown, Rizzoli (Settembre 2025)
2. La catastrofica visita allo zoo, J. Dicker, La nave di Teseo (Marzo 2025)
3. Spera. L’autobiografia, Francesco (Jorge Maria Bergoglio), Mondadori (Gennaio 2025)
4. Verrà l’alba, starai bene, G. Gotto, Mondadori (Giugno 2025)
5. L’anniversario, A. Bajani, Feltrinelli (Gennaio 2025)
6. Tatà, V. Perrin, E/O (Novembre 2024)
7. Prova a non ridere, Pera Toons, Tunué (Marzo 2025)
8. La felicità nei giorni di pioggia, I. Clark, Libreria Pienogiorno (Marzo 2025)
9. Come l’arancio amaro, M. Palminteri, Bompiani (Giugno 2024)
10. Il Dio dei nostri padri, A. Cazzullo, Harper Collins (Settembre 2024)
TEN BEST-SELLING STOCKS IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF 2025 – SMALL AND MEDIUM PUBBLISHER
1. Il dio dei boschi, L. Moore, NN Editore (Novembre 2024)
2. Lo svezzamento è vostro! Manuale pratico di autosvezzamento, Pediatra Carla, Sonda (Febbraio 2021)
3. Dammi mille baci, T. Cole, Always Publishing (Dicembre 2024)
4. Orbital, S. Harvey, NN Editore (Febbraio 2025)
5. Israele e i palestinesi in poche parole, M. Travaglio, PaperFIRST (Novembre 2023)
6. Casa Bianca-Italia. La corruzione dell’informazione di uno Stato satellite, A. Orsini, PaperFIRST (Aprile 2025)
7. Il potere di adesso. Una guida all’illuminazione spirituale, E. Tolle, My Life (Ottobre 2023)
8. È facile smettere di fumare se sai come farlo, A. Carr, Ewi (Dicembre 2024)
9. Fratelli di chat. Storia segreta del partito di Giorgia Meloni, G. Salvini, PaperFIRST (Febbraio 2025) 10. Mille pezzi del mio cuore, T. Cole, Always Publishing (Luglio 2024)
REASONS FOR PEACE
In a time of international political upheaval and global tensions, small and medium-sized publishing confirms its vocation to reflect on the present, to become a place of encounter and discussion on complex issues such as wars and conflicts.
FEELINGS OF THE PAST AND REASONS OF THE PRESENT
“Più libri più liberi” (More Books, More Free) aims to honor the figures who courageously fueled public debate and made a vital contribution to our country’s culture. Pier Paolo Pasolini, for example, will be one of them. There will also be events dedicated to Andrea Camilleri, and finally, the closing event will be dedicated to Michela Murgia.
The stage will feature a series of current affairs and in-depth discussions with leading figures in the Italian media world, including Marco Da Milano, Giovanni Floris, and Ilaria Cucchi.
At the Arena, Robinson will host a series of Italian authors who have left their mark on contemporary literature, including Viola Ardone, Gianrico Carofiglio, and Francesco Piccolo.
THE PROTESTS “CASE”
However, protests abound. A long list of authors, actors, and directors signed a critical appeal against the presence of Passaggio al Bosco, a publisher that publishes texts extolling fascist sentiment.
For this reason, authors such as Berbero, Zero Calcare, and Antonio Augias deserted the demonstration.
REASONS AND FEELINGS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
There are many opportunities for children and young adults who are avid readers. The reasons and feelings of young readers will be explored at Più libri più liberi (More Books, More Free) in a series of workshops and meetings designed for the younger generations and for those who believe in the power of reading as a powerful tool for growth. For young adults and adults, there is also a growing focus on graphic novels, those comics capable of speaking to an audience, combining the visual power of art with the profound language of literature.
AWARDS, PROFESSIONAL CENTER, AND MEDIA
The events for the Strega Ragazzi, Magis BANCOMAT, and Invictus Prizes are confirmed. On the professional front, the Business Center on the Forum Floor is expanding, a 500-square-meter area dedicated to professionals (and others), designed and managed directly by the Italian Publishers Association. The Rights Center, located on Levels N4 and N5, will host meetings with international professionals during the first two days of the event—62 from 41 European and non-European countries. It will be preceded, as is tradition, by a Fellowship Program dedicated this year to Spanish-language publishers.
Each year, the Fair is enriched with increasingly current dissemination tools. In addition to traditional radio and LIVETV, this year the App and AI dedicated to the event are making their debut.
MARKET FACTS
Beyond the initial good and bad news:
> Reading of books, e-books, and audiobooks is growing across all age groups, but especially among younger people (15-17 years old).
> The three seasons of the book market: the lowest point was in 2016, followed by growth until 2021, but after that, the market expanded and stalled.
> Readers’ spending on adult and children’s books in trade channels in the first ten months of 2025: €1,128.8 million (-€27.7 million).
> Sales and available editions of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility” are increasing.
For those who want to find out all the information about the event on social media, use the official hashtag #piulibri25.
For information and details on individual events: www.plpl.it
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Elena Cattaneo was born in Cremona and lives in Rome. As a teacher, editor and web reporter she looks at this city, even also many years, like a curious turist.
After a Foreign Language University Degree she specialized in Communication Science. She fully dedicated to Business Communication, her most relevant interest.
She cultivated several cultural hobbies, fond of art and human being expression.
Elena Cattaneo was born in Cremona and lives in Rome. As a teacher, editor and web reporter she looks at this city, even also many years, like a curious turist.
After a Foreign Language University Degree she specialized in Communication Science. She fully dedicated to Business Communication, her most relevant interest.
She cultivated several cultural hobbies, fond of art and human being expression.