In Halle (Saale) began the second edition of the book fair Seitenwechsel book fair began. According to the organisers, more than 140 authors and publishers have registered. Media reports place some of the exhibitors in the right-conservative to far-right spectrum, in some cases citing assessments by the domestic intelligence agency. At the start of the fair, Messe Halle long queues of visitors formed, according to reports from the scene.
The City of Halle had distanced itself from the event’s format in municipal meeting documents ahead of the fair. The documents explicitly raise concerns about its proximity in time to 9 November; the date prompted further criticism in local politics. The organisers, by contrast, point to an expanded programme and increased demand. The programme includes presentations by individual publishers and contributions from well-known voices in right-wing publishing. Media reports also name figures with party-political backgrounds. The respective exhibitors are responsible for their specific appearances and content; the city does not provide an editorial assessment.
For the 9 November 2026 a protest rally has been registered outside the exhibition grounds. Cultural initiatives, associations and groups with party links had called for counter-protests in recent weeks. Polizei and Public order authorities are preparing deployments to ensure freedom of assembly and public safety. The authorities have not made public details of the scale or tactical planning.
In contextualising the publishers and publications represented, reports refer to state sources as well as journalistic analyses. Accordingly, individual actors are classified as far-right where they are listed in reports by the domestic intelligence agency; there are also critical analytical assessments that do not involve formal monitoring. This distinction is documented in current reporting and is disputed or played down by the organisers.
The fair had already drawn strong criticism at its debut in 2025. The political dispute centres on whether the platform is creating further links between publishing ventures, party-political circles and independent projects. Statements from organisers, exhibitors and protesters have been quoted in various media; the wider consequences for cultural policy in Halle remain unclear. The organisers expect large crowds this weekend, while counter-demonstrations on Sunday are likely to shape the event’s wider setting.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).