Although the coronavirus crisis has already forced the cancellation of several major international publishing events, the Frankfurt Book Fair is still expected to go ahead in October.

In a statement, Frankfurt president Juergen Boos says it is uncertain what format the fair will take, but “what is already clear, however, is that it will be a very special event. We are incorporating the measures being discussed at the national and state levels into our planning on an ongoing basis, since our highest priority is the health of our exhibitors, trade visitors and the public.”

Boos says, “It will probably be possible to provide a clearer picture as of mid-June.”

In March, Germany’s Leipzig Book Fair was called off. CanadaFBM 2020 – the organization overseeing Canada’s presence as the Guest of Honour country at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair – intended to follow tradition and make its first programming announcements at Leipzig.

Other events that have already cancelled their 2020 dates include the London Book Fair, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, and BookExpo.