Paris Book Festival Opens Amid Grasset Publishing Crisis

The Festival du Livre de Paris opened on April 17, 2026, at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, running through April 19 with approximately 450 exhibitors and over 1,200 authors. Vincent Bolloré, owner of the Hachette group, has abruptly dismissed Olivier Nora, the long-time head of Grasset. This decision has triggered a seismic reaction across the French publishing industry, casting a shadow over the literary celebration. More than one hundred writers have announced plans to leave Grasset in protest, directly targeting Bolloré's actions. The festival's enthusiastic atmosphere has been dampened by profound concerns about editorial independence. The event typically draws tens of thousands of literature enthusiasts. The crisis represents an unprecedented challenge for French publishing.