Plan your visit to Bharat Mandapam, travel comfortably and leave yourself time to discover your next good read. Event information presented here was checked on 29 October 2026. Check the official NBT website before travelling for updated entry arrangements and visitor announcements.
Key takeaways
- The New Delhi World Book Fair 2027 will take place from 16 to 24 January 2027, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
- NBT currently lists Halls 2–6 and daily opening hours of 11 AM to 8 PM.
- Supreme Court Metro Station, on the Blue Line, is the nearest metro station. The metro is my recommended way to travel.
- Food and water options are plentiful within the Pragati Maidan premises. Still, carry at least a 500 ml water bottle, subject to entry rules, because you will be walking a fair bit.
- Bring a short reading wishlist, comfortable shoes and enough time for books you had not planned to discover.
A January Day Among Books
Whenever I have visited the World Book Fair, I arrive with two or three books in mind. Then a random cover catches your eye while browsing, a title makes me pause and want to know more, and someone behind a publisher’s counter introduces me to an author I may have never read.
And just like that, my carefully prepared list begins to expand.
That is part of the pleasure of a book fair. You can search for something specific while remaining open to a story, subject or writer you did not know you were looking for.
The New Delhi World Book Fair 2027 gives readers nine days to do precisely that. And January is a welcome time for it. Delhi’s winter usually makes walking around and exploring more comfortable than the warmer months, allowing you to browse at your own pace.
A little preparation will help you spend more of that time with books.
New Delhi World Book Fair 2027 – Essential Details
| Detail | Current information |
| Dates | 16–24 January 2027 |
| Venue | Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi |
| Exhibition halls | Halls 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 |
| Daily timings | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Organiser | National Book Trust, India |
| Co-organiser and venue partner | India Trade Promotion Organisation |
| Official information | NBT’s New Delhi World Book Fair 2027 website |
These details are currently published by NBT. Check again closer to your visit for any changes and for visitor entry instructions.
How to Reach the Fair – My Recommendation Is the Metro
For most visitors who can conveniently access the network, Delhi Metro would be my first choice.
The nearest station is Supreme Court Metro Station on the Blue Line, serving the Pragati Maidan complex. ITPO’s visitor information also confirms metro connectivity and substantial underground parking at Bharat Mandapam.
There is ample basement parking infrastructure if you choose to drive. The underground parking capacity is substantial. However, parking capacity and the time it takes to reach the venue are two different considerations. A major event can bring heavy traffic to the surrounding roads. The metro avoids much of that uncertainty and may be the quickest option, depending on where you start.
Check the designated visitor gates and parking arrangements for the book fair before leaving. Access instructions for another exhibition at Bharat Mandapam may not apply to this one. And remember that reaching the premises is only part of the journey. There will still be walking between the entrance, exhibition halls and individual stalls.
Food and Water Are Available, but Carry a Small Bottle
Food and water options are plentiful, both inside the exhibition buildings and in the outdoor areas within the Pragati Maidan premises. You should be able to take a break without leaving the complex.
Even so, my advice is to carry at least half a litre of water on your person, subject to the fair’s security rules.
The reason is simple. You may spend longer than expected moving between halls, browsing shelves or standing through a conversation. Having water with you saves an interruption every time you feel thirsty.
Wear comfortable shoes, too. A book fair has a quiet way of adding steps to your day. You might notice a new publisher, an undiscovered title, remember that you also had to visit another stall in the previous hall, and discover that your ‘short visit’ has acquired a substantial walking component.
But you know what? January makes this exploration especially enjoyable. Carry a layer for the colder parts of the day, and allow yourself a food or tea break between rounds of browsing.
Give Yourself Time to Browse
I would avoid squeezing the fair between two appointments.
If you want to explore several halls, allow a few hours. If you also want to attend a discussion, meet an author or browse with children, leave more room in your day.
You do not have to see everything.
Choose a few priorities, then leave some time unallocated. A visit becomes more rewarding when you can stop at an unfamiliar stall without feeling that you are falling behind schedule.
For readers travelling with older family members or anyone who finds extended walking difficult, check accessibility arrangements in advance and plan regular breaks.
Bring a Wishlist That Leaves Room for Surprise
A useful reading wishlist can have three parts:
- Books you already want: specific titles, authors or editions.
- Subjects you want to explore: history, relationships, technology, politics, poetry or anything else that has been on your mind.
- Something unfamiliar: a translated novel, a debut writer or a genre you rarely read.
This gives your visit a direction without deciding every purchase beforehand.
Read a few opening pages where browsing is permitted. A lot of books come wrapped in shrink wrap to keep their covers clean. Do not remove the shrink wrap without permission. The best way is to request the stall staff to do it for you. They might even have an open reading copy tucked somewhere that they might share. Look beyond the cover and ask whether you want to remain in the company of that voice.
When someone recommends a book, ask what kind of reader would enjoy it. Even if it is a bestseller, it may not belong on your bedside table.
If You Enjoy Thrillers, Follow the Human Question
As a novelist, I am interested in what people do when trust becomes uncertain.
For thriller readers, that can be a useful way to choose a book. Alongside asking what happens in the story, ask what places its characters under pressure.
Is it a relationship they cannot afford to lose? A secret that threatens their reputation? Access to power that makes revenge possible?
These questions sit at the heart of my own fiction. Love Swipe Blackmail explores trust, concealed identity and blackmail around a dating app. Its sequel, Shadow Play: Love And Blackmail moves into organisational access, anger and revenge, where personal choices can produce much wider consequences.
You may prefer psychological suspense, corporate intrigue or stories shaped by technology. The fair is an opportunity to discover which kinds of tension hold your attention.
Check confirmed publisher and stall information before travelling if you are looking for a particular book, including mine. I will share my publisher’s stall details as soon as they are announced by NBT, So please revisit this article close to the event dates.
Check Tickets and Entry Instructions Before Leaving
For New Delhi World Book Fair 2027 tickets, entry charges, permitted items and visitor gates, use
the latest official NBT announcements. Do not assume that arrangements from a previous edition will continue unchanged.
Keep the official page bookmarked. Once the programme is available, note any sessions you particularly want to attend and leave enough time to reach them.
A little preparation takes care of the logistics. Then you can give your attention to the more enjoyable question – what would you like to read next?
FAQs
When is the New Delhi World Book Fair 2027?
The fair is scheduled for 16–24 January 2027.
Where will the New Delhi World Book Fair 2027 be held?
It will be held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, in Halls 2–6, according to NBT’s current information.
What are the opening hours?
NBT currently lists daily timings of 11 AM to 8 PM. Recheck the official website before visiting.
Which metro station is nearest to the fair?
Supreme Court Metro Station on Delhi Metro’s Blue Line is the nearest station. Follow the fair’s designated visitor-entry directions from there.
Is parking available at Bharat Mandapam?
Bharat Mandapam has substantial underground parking infrastructure. Check the fair-specific parking entrances, charges and access arrangements before driving.
Are food and drinking water available?
Food and water options are available inside the buildings and in outdoor areas within the Pragati Maidan premises. Carrying a small water bottle is still sensible because the visit involves considerable walking, subject to entry rules.
How much time should I allow?
Allow a few hours to explore several halls comfortably. Give yourself longer if you plan to attend sessions, browse extensively or take regular breaks.
Is entry free for the 2027 fair?
Check NBT’s latest visitor announcement for confirmed 2027 entry rules and any ticket charges. Previous-year arrangements should not be treated as confirmation.