Ukraine was officially represented at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 for the first time and, from 10 to 18 January 2026, shared a stand with Austria at the Bharat Mandapam venue (New Delhi). The Fair was organised by National Book Trust, India.
The joint Austrian–Ukrainian presence and public programme were supported by Austrian Embassy New Delhi, the Austrian Cultural Forum New Delhi, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of India, and the Ukrainian Institute — within the framework of understandings between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Austria and Ukraine on supporting Austrian–Ukrainian cultural projects in India.
At the shared stand, visitors explored a curated selection of publications and materials presenting Ukrainian and Austrian literature and culture.
Interest in the joint programme was genuine and clearly felt: students, families with children, translators, publishing professionals, and readers stopped by the stand. They asked many questions about Ukrainian and Austrian authors, translations, and cultural initiatives, as well as about the role of culture and literature during wartime.
The Fair also featured a series of public discussions and author talks with Austrian and Ukrainian participants.
On 13 January 2026 and 16 January 2026, two Ukrainian–Austrian panel events took place featuring Austrian writer Valerie Fritsch and Ukrainian author Lyubko Deresh. Both discussions were moderated by Murtaza Ali Khan—a film critic and journalist, and curator of the Austrian–Ukrainian cultural project.
On Sunday, 18 January 2026, the Ukrainian session “A Culture Under Siege: Ukrainian Writings in a Time of War” was held with Yuliya Musakovska and Lyubko Deresh. Poet and translator Nidheesh Tyagi also joined the conversation; he translates Ukrainian poetry, including wartime texts, into Hindi. The event was moderated by Prof. Subarno Chatterji (University of Delhi).
A special highlight of the joint programme was a Petrykivka painting workshop for children — Petrykivka being an element of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The workshop was led by Olha Syrovatko, a Ukrainian artist and representative of the Ukrainian community in India, offering young visitors a warm, hands-on introduction to a Ukrainian tradition.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Austrian Embassy New Delhi and the Austrian Cultural Forum New Delhi for their partnership, key organisational support, and day-to-day coordination of the joint stand and programme. We particularly acknowledge the contribution of the Head of the Austrian Cultural Forum in New Delhi, Mr. Michael Pal, as well as the coordinator, Mr. Rishabh Kurseja.
We thank the Ukrainian Institute for facilitating the participation of Ukrainian writers and for the substantive content of the Ukrainian part of the programme.
We also thank Murtaza Ali Khan — film critic and journalist, curator of the Austrian–Ukrainian cultural project — for curating and moderating the Ukrainian–Austrian discussions, as well as for media support and publications that helped broaden coverage of the joint programme.
We are grateful to Prof. Subarno Chatterji and Nidheesh Tyagi for their meaningful contribution to the Ukrainian session on 18 January.
Finally, we express special thanks to our interns from O.P. Jindal Global University, who assisted with stand operations, visitor engagement, and organisational matters, as well as to our volunteers for their support, responsibility, and daily practical help throughout the Fair.