The ‘Book-walking’ Ceremony Turns 12

According to Khabaronline News Agency, Ahmad Masjed-Jamei, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Iran Book and Literature House, stated in an interview with the press headquarters of the 33rd Iran Book Week regarding the 12th edition of the ‘Book-walking’ ceremony, which will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2025: “Fortunately, the Book-walking program has found and solidified its place over the years. I am truly happy that this program not only continues after all these years but also becomes more fruitful each year.”

He added: “In previous years, I used to invite citizens, families, teachers, students, and professional associations to participate in Book-walking, but today this trend has been reversed. Now it is the publishers and cultural figures who invite us to attend their programs, and this was the intention we pursued from the very beginning of Book-walking.”

Masjed-Jamei stated about the main achievement of this campaign: “Book-walking has created a space for direct dialogue between publishers, authors, readers, and executive bodies. In the past, it was customary for officials to give speeches to a group of publishers, but today managers have become listeners, and it is the publishers and booksellers who express their views in a comfortable and intimate atmosphere.”

He also addressed the secondary achievements of the Book-walking campaign, saying: “This program provides a platform for authors to meet their readers, and publishers can also engage in dialogue with various groups of buyers of their works. The formation of reading circles in cafes, parks, and even private homes has also been one of the positive outcomes of this campaign.”

The founder of Book-walking, in another part of his speech, referred to the physical expansion of this program and continued: “The creation of initiatives like the ‘Book Pedestrian Zone’ between Enghelab Square and Vali-e Asr Crossroads, and the addition of audio and digital books to this campaign, are among its other achievements over the years. In the early years, only a limited number of bookstores were active on Karimkhan Street, but today these spaces are filled with bookstores and book cafes, and our exploration path has also become much wider.”

Masjed-Jamei explained in response to a question about the operational details of this year’s Book-walking: “The precise schedule and starting point for this year’s Book-walking are still under review and completion due to proposals and invitations from publishers and booksellers; the final route plan will be finalized by the Iran Book and Literature House, the Tehran Publishers and Booksellers Union, and other relevant organizations in a meeting and will be announced soon. Typically, the program begins in the morning with breakfast for publishing professionals and Book-walking participants, and then continues with visits to bookstores in various areas of Tehran, including Enghelab, West, or Karimkhan Street.”

Expressing gratitude to all involved in this campaign, he conveyed his message to book enthusiasts as follows: “Every year, I have witnessed sweet events in this program, from the presence of great cultural figures to the formation of reading circles in villages following these Book-walking events. Book-walking is no longer a formal, lecture-based program; rather, it is a social and cultural space that experiences an innovative and dialogue-oriented approach to books. I invite all groups, especially young people, to join us on this unforgettable day.”

Masjed-Jamei also emphasized, referring to this year’s slogan: “We have chosen the slogan ‘I’m coming too’ for this year. This slogan clearly shows that Book-walking has become a collective movement for the vitality of our society. Now, from authors and publishers to students and homemakers, everyone responds to the invitation of Book-walking by saying: I’m coming too.”

The 33rd Iran Book Week, with the slogan ‘Read for Iran,’ began on Saturday, November 15, 2025, and will continue until November 20, 2025.