Unique in its category in Greece, TBF was first launched in May 2004 with the aim of putting Greece on the map of International Book Fairs. It soon became a hub for cultural exchanges and trade between Europe, the Balkans, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Today it is one of the most important cultural institutions in the country with international recognition.
The Thessaloniki Books Fair is organized by the Hellenic Foundation for Culture in cooperation with Greek Publishers, TIF–HELEXPO, the Central Macedonia Region, and the Municipality of Thessaloniki, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports. It is co-funded by the European Regional Development Development Fund under the 2014-2020 Regional Operational Program (ROP) for Central Macedonia. TBF is a member of the International Book Fairs Forum and ALDUS UP – the European Book Fairs Network.