ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The first-ever Kurdish Book Fair opened in Erbil on Thursday, bringing together publishers, writers, academics and intellectuals from across Kurdistan in a landmark cultural event dedicated exclusively to Kurdish-language literature.

Held under the slogan “Writing in Kurdish and Thinking in Kurdish,” the exhibition was inaugurated at the Erbil International Fairground in the presence of government officials, political leaders, authors and cultural figures.

The fair, which runs from June 4 to June 10, features 30 publishing and distribution centers and showcases nearly one million books covering more than 10,000 titles. The collection includes literary, scientific and academic works written by Kurdish authors from different parts of Kurdistan and represents a wide range of Kurdish dialects and linguistic traditions.

According to organizers, the exhibition was launched to preserve Erbil’s role as a center of Kurdish culture and intellectual life after regional circumstances prevented the organization of the annual Erbil International Book Fair this year.

The books on display span diverse subjects, including politics, history, religion, sociology, economics, literature and academic research. Organizers said the event aims to provide readers with access to newly published Kurdish works while supporting local authors, publishers and the broader Kurdish-language publishing industry.

The exhibition is also expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen Kurdish-language education, publishing and cultural preservation. Institutions across the Kurdistan Region have increasingly expanded support for literary production, translation projects and initiatives promoting reading in the Kurdish language.

Organizers described the fair as an important platform for encouraging reading in the mother tongue, fostering Kurdish-language writing and providing authors and publishers with an opportunity to present their latest works to a wider audience.

In recent years, Erbil has strengthened its position as a regional cultural hub by hosting international book fairs, literary festivals and academic events that attract participants from across Iraq and neighboring countries. The inaugural Kurdish Book Fair is expected to further reinforce that role while celebrating the richness and diversity of Kurdish literature and scholarship.