"Nong Mini," the young skateboarding champion, flips the script into the world of books, sparking reading adrenaline and inviting everyone to the "54th Book Week" from 26 March to 6 April 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
The sports world energetically merges with the reading community as "Nong Mini," Chanthakao Udomphen, a Thai national skateboarder and the youngest Thai athlete to win a gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games, appeared at a press conference inviting sports fans and people of all ages to join an important experience at the "54th National Book Week and 24th International Book Week" under the theme "Read The Legend," held from 26 March to 6 April 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
Nong Mini shared her inspiration from reading and her perspective as a modern athlete, saying reading is like training that enhances both skills and thinking. "Books are another arena where I learn new things and constantly improve myself. I want to invite everyone, especially my Gen Z peers, to open their hearts to reading books and discover their own inspiration."
Mr. Natthakorn Wutichaiyapornkul, President of the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT), stated that this year’s "Read The Legend" theme reflects the power of living "legends" that do not remain in the past but are passed on through books and people to the present era. The event gathers over 10 million quality books from 362 publishers across more than 30,000 square meters, featuring 1,028 booths for readers of all ages to shop to their heart’s content.
A key highlight includes the rights trading platform "Bangkok Rights Fair 2026" held from 27–28 March, expected to generate over 90 million baht, underscoring Thailand’s potential as a regional hub for the book industry.
The event is packed with over 100 activities, including national exhibitions, renowned author panel discussions, and comprehensive book zones covering eight highlight areas: fiction and literature, comics and youth, general books, antiquarian books, children’s and educational books, foreign books, non-book items and board games, plus a new popular Boy’s Love/Girl’s Love zone catering to modern readers.
Magnet activities attracting visitors include the exhibition "Read The Legend: Forbidden (Forgotten) Books," the "Meet the Legends" author meet-and-greet stage, legendary hand puppet performances by the "Jaokhunthong Puppet Troupe," creative workshops, and the "Ministry of Professional Readers" creative event uniting over 200 creators to ignite a reading trend among the new generation.
Sports fans and readers should not miss being part of the year's biggest book festival and creating a "new chapter in reading legends" together from 26 March to 6 April 2026, 10:00–21:00, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. For more details, visit the Thai Book Fair page.