The 50th Chennai Book Fair will run from 7 to 19 January 2027 at the YMCA Ground in Nandanam, according to the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI), which organises it. The dates and venue were announced on 25 September 2026, when Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar unveiled the golden jubilee logo and launched the fair’s official website, as UNI reported.
That gives readers, schools and publishers almost three months to plan. Some details are still pending. As of mid-October, visiting hours, entry arrangements and the event programme had not been announced, a point News Today made explicitly. This guide sticks to what has been confirmed and flags what has not.
What is confirmed for January 2027
| Item | Status as of 18 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Edition | 50th, billed as the golden jubilee |
| Dates | 7 to 19 January 2027 (13 days) |
| Venue | YMCA Grounds, Nandanam, Anna Salai, Chennai 600035 |
| Organiser | BAPASI, president R.S. Shanmugam |
| Daily timings | Not yet announced |
| Entry fee | Not yet announced |
| Programme and guests | Proposals only; not confirmed |
The dates sit right on top of the Pongal break, so expect the second weekend and the festival days to be the busiest. If crowds bother you, aim for a weekday afternoon in the first week.
What BAPASI has proposed, and what is still unconfirmed
At the launch, BAPASI said it wants to mark the jubilee with new programmes for readers, students, teachers, writers and publishers. The ideas reported by DT Next include:
- inviting Nobel Prize-winning authors of literature as special guests;
- bringing in representatives of Tamil associations from other countries, to reach younger readers in the diaspora;
- honouring senior scholars and writers in Indian languages, especially those above 60;
- naming school and college students as “Book Fair Ambassadors” to promote reading on social media.
None of the guest names has been confirmed, so treat any social media post naming a famous author with caution until BAPASI announces it. The official site describes paid fast-track tickets, daily and season passes and school group passes, but prices were not listed when we checked. It also gives a BAPASI contact line, 044 2833 2244, and the email contact@bapasi.com.
Getting there: use the metro
The YMCA ground is next to Nandanam metro station on the Blue Line along Anna Salai, and the fair’s website points visitors to Gate 3 of the station. That is the simplest way in. Anna Salai traffic around Nandanam and Saidapet slows to a crawl on fair evenings, and parking inside the grounds fills quickly on weekends.
- Metro: Nandanam station, Gate 3. Carry a metro card or buy a QR ticket in advance to skip queues at the return journey.
- Bus: Many MTC routes run along Anna Salai past Nandanam signal.
- Car: The fair website publishes parking maps for YMCA Nandanam. Check them before you leave.
How the last few editions ran
Past fairs give a useful sense of scale, though the 2027 arrangements may differ. The 49th edition ran from 8 to 21 January 2026, with stalls open from 11 am to 8.30 pm, going by a British Council listing for its own stall there. The 48th edition, which opened on 27 December 2024, had about 950 stalls; ETV Bharat reported more than 8 lakh visitors partway through, and BAPASI expected sales above Rs 30 crore. That edition gave its first two stalls to books for visually challenged readers and had a section for books by trans authors.
The official site now speaks of more than 1,100 publishing stalls in six halls, though it does not say whether those are 2027 figures. Wait for the stall list and floor plan before planning a route.
Planning a visit: practical tips
- Make a list. Hundreds of stalls look alike after the first hour. Note the publishers you want, then find their stall numbers once the floor plan is out.
- Carry a cloth bag and cash plus UPI. Most stalls take UPI, but phone networks get congested inside the halls.
- Go early on weekends. Afternoons from the second Saturday onwards are crowded, especially if they coincide with the Pongal holidays.
- Bring water and wear comfortable footwear. The grounds are large and you will walk a lot.
- Schools: Teachers planning a group visit should write to BAPASI early, since the website mentions school group passes.
- Check the website every week. Timings, fees and the events schedule will be posted there first.
Quick answers
When is the Chennai Book Fair 2027?
From 7 to 19 January 2027, according to BAPASI. It is the 50th edition.
Where is it held?
At the YMCA Grounds in Nandanam, on Anna Salai. The nearest metro station is Nandanam.
What are the timings and entry fee?
They had not been announced by 18 October 2026. Watch chennaibookfair.com for updates. In 2026 the stalls ran from 11 am to 8.30 pm.
Are Nobel laureates coming?
BAPASI has said it plans to invite them, but no participation has been confirmed.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Chennai Book Fair official website (BAPASI)
- 50th Chennai Book Fair to be held from Jan 7 to 19 at Nandanam (News Today)
- Life TN book fair: 50th edition logo and website launched (UNI)
- Chennai Book Fair’s golden jubilee logo unveiled (DT Next)
- Chennai Book Fair 2026 event listing (British Council)
- 48th edition of Chennai Book Fair at YMCA grounds (ETV Bharat)
