From audiobooks to podcasts – audio continues to be an area of growth in publishing markets worldwide. Frankfurter Buchmesse (7-11 October 2026) brings all major players of the international audio markets together: from big platforms like Audible and Spotify to smaller market players. At the fair's Frankfurt Audio area audio publishers, service providers, tech companies and streaming platforms present their latest audio productions and technologies, connect with business partners and talk about current trends.
This year, the fair's audio area will span across two hall levels: While publishing partners gain visibility in the new Audio Business Centre in Hall 4.1, audiobook and podcast fans can discover the latest audio productions on the ground floor in Hall 4.0. Among this year’s exhibitors are nine newcomers, including companies such as Eleven Labs, InAudio, and Elredo Voice.
Professional programme: trends and insights by CEOs and audio experts
From the latest technologies and innovations in scripted audio to the role of big platforms in smaller markets and growth drivers – a high-caliber professional programme will showcase the latest trends and developments in international audio publishing. The programme will kick off on the Wednesday of the fair (7 October 2026) with Spotify announcing news and Tobias Wanner, CEO of tonies, providing insights into the strategy of his organisation. The Thursday afternoon on the Dialogue Stage will be entirely dedicated to audio (8 October 2026, foyer of Hall 4.0). Here, expert talks on audio markets, developments, strategies and products will be taking place every half hour, featuring CEOs and audio experts such as Rachel Ghiazza, Chief Content Officer at Audible; Niclas Sandin, CEO BookBeat; Adam Fritz, CEO Pozotron, and Ali Abd El-Moneim Ahmed, CEO Arabookverse International, to name a few.
Connecting the industry
Ama Dadson, founder and CEO of AkooBooks and Frankfurter Buchmesse’s Audio Ambassador 2025 and 2026, will be connecting interested exhibitors and trade visitors with audio companies in the fair’s audio area. She can be found at the Audio Business Centre from Wednesday to Friday (Hall 4.1 K9).
On Thursday, 8 October 2026, the Audio Publishers Association is inviting for the first time the international audio community to its networking reception on the fairgrounds (invite-only; 5.00 pm, Dialogue Stage, foyer of Hall 4.0).
New white paper: AI in audiobook production
In which areas of the audiobook production is artificial intelligence already being used? What opportunities and challenges does the new technology present? Audio expert Javier Celaya and his team at Dosdoce.com interviewed more than 85 industry professionals from around the world. The findings and insights are summarised in the new audio white paper “Who Is Narrating the Future?”, published on 4 September by Dosdoce.com and Frankfurter Buchmesse. The free white paper is here available for download: https://www.buchmesse.de/en/whitepaper
New “Listening Lounge” for fantasy fans
The book fair’s new “Listening Lounge” (Hall 4.0 J9) puts the fantasy genre centre stage. Here, authors and audiobook narrators come together during “Author meets Voice” and the “Silent Audiobook Disco” invites visitors to listen to new German-speaking audio productions. Further highlights include Rebecca Veil’s live reading from Under the Iron Sky and the audiobook quiz on fantastical creatures – from vampires to werewolves.
Live events and podcasts: with the Hogwarts Express and "On the Books"
The Saturday of the fair will be dedicated to the spoken word with countless events on the latest audiobook productions on the Imagination Stage (Hall 4.0 J85) and other stages on the fairgrounds. Authors such as Caroline Wahl, Sebastian Fitzek and Jan Weiler will talk about their new audiobooks. Harry Potter fans can take their seats in the Hogwarts Express carriage (Hall 4.0 H32) and meet the voices behind the German audiobooks about the famous young wizard at the live event.
This year’s Frankfurter Buchmesse will have the hearts of podcast fans racing. The audio area will feature three podcast studios in Hall 4.0. Here, live recordings of the trade podcast “On the Books” with Felix Zeltner and Erin Cox will be taking place and on the fair's stages the hosts of the German podcasts "stern Crime Spurensuche" and "FOCUS Machtmenschen" will talk with their guests about crime, power and politics.
Frankfurt Audio press tour
On Thursday, 8 October 2026, Martina Barth, Key Account Manager Audio at Frankfurter Buchmesse, and Carlo Carrenho, publishing consultant and former Audio Ambassador, will take media representatives on a short tour through the fair's audio area. The tour will be in English; meeting point: Audio Business Centre (Hall 4.1 K9).
Selected events of the professional programme:
All events can be found in the Frankfurter Buchmesse app and in the online calendar of events: www.buchmesse.de/events. Please note that the calendar will be continuously updated until the fair.
Identity Has a Sound: How Audio Preserves Cultural Diversity Wednesday, 7 Oct. 2026, 10.00 am, LatAm Stage (Hall 3.1 F70)
News by Spotify Wednesday, 7 Oct. 2026, 10.30 am, Dialogue Stage (Foyer Hall 4.0)
Global 50 CEO Talk with Tobias Wann, CEO tonies Wednesday, 7 Oct. 2026, 12.00-1.00 pm, Dialogue Stage (Foyer Hall 4.0)
The Future of Audio Publishing (I+II) Wednesday, 7 Oct. 2026, 1.30 pm, Imagination Stage (Hall 4.0 J85) Thursday, 8 Oct. 2026, 10.30 am, Imagination Stage (Hall 4.0 J85)
Micro-Conference: Audio Insights
Publishing Perspectives Forum: Developing, Supporting, or Directing: The Role of Global Audio Platforms in Emerging Markets Thursday, 8 Oct. 2026, 1.30-2.00 pm, Dialogue Stage (Foyer Hall 4.0)
Audible: Tuning In: The Latest Trends and Tools in Global Audio Thursday, 8 Oct. 2026, 2.00-2.30 pm, Dialogue Stage (Foyer Halle 4.0)
Pozotron: Tech and Innovation in Scripted Audio Thursday, 8 Oct. 2026, 2.30-3.00 pm, Dialogue Stage (Foyer Hall 4.0)
Pocket FM: Audio Entertainment: New Category on the Horizon Thursday, 8 Oct. 2026, 3.00-3.30 pm, Dialogue Stage (Foyer Hall 4.0)
Session by Spotify Thursday, 8 Oct. 2026, 3.30-4.00 pm, Dialogue Stage (Foyer Hall 4.0)
BookBeat: What Drives Audiobook Growth in Europe in 2026 Thursday, 8 Oct. 2026, 4.00-5.00 pm, Dialogue Stage (Foyer Hall 4.0) | .png "Logo of Frankfurter Buchmesse")
