This year’s London Book Fair, the UK’s largest book event, has been cancelled because of escalating travel restrictions and consequently a significant number of international exhibitors pulling out of the event.
In a statement by Reed Exhibitions posted on social media, it said: ‘The effects, actual and projected, of coronavirus are becoming evident across all aspects of our lives here in the UK and across the world, with many of our participants facing travel restrictions. We have been following UK government guidelines and working with the rolling advice from the public health authorities and other organisations, and so it is with reluctance that we have taken the decision not to go ahead with this year’s event.”
Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster were among several leading publishers to withdraw from the fair before its cancellation.
Amazon also pulled out earlier this week "out of an abundance of caution, and with the health and safety of our employees, customers and partners as our No. 1 priority”.
London Book Fair will return in 2021.
