Montreuil children's book fair is back, and it's free for everyone

The Salon du livre et de la presse jeunesse, France's big children's and young adult book fair, runs from Wednesday 25 to Monday 30 November 2026 at Paris Montreuil Expo, 128 rue de Paris, in Montreuil, the town just past the eastern edge of Paris. This is the 42nd edition, and the theme is "Aux frontières du réel" (on the edge of the real).

Entry is free for everyone, adults included. The one rule: each visitor, child or adult, needs a ticket booked online before coming. Booking opened on 5 October.

The organiser announces close to 400 exhibitors and 2,000 authors and illustrators over the six days, with talks, readings, workshops, an exhibition on the theme and book signings. Almost everything is in French. The first signing names are due the week of 12 October and the preview programme on 18 November.

If you're coming with kids: there is no picnic area, and the cloakroom and toilets are up on the mezzanine level. Monday 30 is the trade day, but it stays open to all.

Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 9am–6pm, Friday 9am–9pm, Saturday 9am–8pm, Sunday 10am–7pm, Monday 9am–6pm. Take Metro line 9 to Robespierre, exit 2 "rue Barbès".