19-20 April ● Verona Chamber of Commerce

Ever wondered what bookselling looks like in other countries? Do booksellers around the world face the same challenges as you? What can you learn from your foreign colleagues’ experiences? Join us at the Chamber of Commerce in Verona on 19-20 April 2026 and find out!

JUMP TO:

The 4th RISE Bookselling conference 

The RISE Bookselling Conference is the first and only European and international conference dedicated primarily to the bookselling sector. Gathering 300 booksellers from all over Europe and the world, as well as representatives and industry experts from the entire sector (authors, publishers, distributors etc.) in one place, this conference provides the attendees with the ideal space to meet, exchange and discuss common priority topics for the book sector.

Following our last three successful editions, the next RISE Bookselling Conference will take place in Verona, Italy, on 19-20 April 2026, with a dedicated cultural tour (limited places available) and an evening welcome reception on 18 April.

If you’ve attended previous conferences, we are looking forward to seeing you again! 

Sunday Sessions

Discover workshops, panels, presentations and keynotes taking place on Sunday

KEYNOTE

TIME

Stefan Carsten 

Dr. Stefan Carsten combines the future, cities and mobility into one clear perspective: how we live, work, and move around needs to be rethought. The futurologist, urban geographer, and mobility expert was a project manager in futurology at Daimler and has since been developing mobility strategies for politics, cities and companies – and supports the transformation of our living spaces as a keynote speaker, advisor and author.

Sunday Panels

   MORNING

   11.05 - 11.55  

Foresight: Exploring the futures of bookselling 

In this presentation, Laura Karlsson, Director of the Finnish Booksellers Association (Kirjakauppaliitto) will discuss what lies ahead for the future of the book trade. Through signals, trends, and scenario thinking, we’ll explore how technology, shifting reader behaviours, and community expectations could reshape bookselling, equipping you with practical foresight tools to navigate uncertainty and actively shape resilient, inspiring futures.

   MORNING

   11.05 - 11.55 

Building digital learning hubs for booksellers 

Digital learning hubs are one-stop learning and development platforms providing a wealth of resources for booksellers. From stock management and returns; staff recruitment and retention; how to mount effective window displays; and running author events and book festivals – everything can be found there. But how do you actually build a successful learning hub and how do you, as a booksellers, utilise its full potential? 

   AFTERNOON

   13.15 - 14.05 

Focus on public procurement: challenges, opportunities and best practices 

Supplying books to schools and public libraries can represent a significant part of a bookshop’s business and often provides a reliable source of income, supporting the bookshop’s economic viability and, ultimately, the local population's access to a wide range of books. But current legislation and procurement practices pose difficulties for smaller bookshops to access public contracts. As the EU is preparing to revise public procurement rules, this panel deep dives into the practicalities of what it means for bookshops to tender for public contracts.

  AFTERNOON

   13.15 - 14.05 

How to create a long-lasting book club 

This session will explore practical strategies for fostering meaningful discussions, selecting diverse and engaging titles, and nurturing a loyal community, whether in-person or online. Learn from successful booksellers and club organizers how to overcome common challenges and create a space where every member feels inspired and connected. Walk away with actionable tips to make your book club a cornerstone of your literary community.

   AFTERNOON

   15.30 - 16.20 

How do young booksellers see the future of bookselling? 

In this panel, young booksellers from across Europe share their experiences and in-sights on the evolving landscape of bookselling. They’ll discuss the challenges they face, from shifting reading habits to economic and political pressures, as well as the opportunities and motivations that keep them passionate about their work. Their con-versation will explore their ambitions, creative solutions, and hopes for the future of bookselling.

   AFTERNOON

   15.30 - 16.20 

Focus on community initiatives that make a difference 

While communities increasingly shift into online spaces and retreat into their respective echo chambers, political divides deepen. Bookshops have always been hubs for social cohesion through the different events and initiatives they organise in- and outside their stores. In this panel, we will find out more about various activities and programmes that three booksellers from different backgrounds and parts of the world lead and how they are a positive force, bringing people together in their local communities.       

Sunday Workshops

   MORNING

   11.05 - 11.55 

My shelf and me: Let’s talk self-censorship in the bookshop    

Reports of physical attacks on bookshops, book bans, and waves of negative online comments can subtly influence what reaches the shelves. In this bookseller-to-bookseller conversation, we’ll reflect on fear and responsibility, asking when caution becomes self-censorship, and how bookshops can remain spaces for political dialogue and hubs of intellectual freedom for communities, while caring for safety of staff. 

  AFTERNOON

   13.15 - 14.05 

My staff and me: Let’s talk people management

From recruitment and motivation to feedback, conflict, and wellbeing, this interactive workshop creates space to reflect on your management style, share challenges, and develop practical tools to lead and support your team in the bookshop.  

   AFTERNOON

   15.30 - 16.20 

My shop and me: Let’s talk about failures & challenges 

This workshop creates a candid space for booksellers to reflect on setbacks, tough decisions, and everyday pressures. We’ll unpack what failure can teach us by sharing experiences, normalising challenges, and identifying practical ways to adapt, recover, and grow stronger. 

Sunday Presentations

   MORNING

   11.05 - 11.55 

The Italian Book Market     

Dive into the unique dynamics and latest trends shaping Italy’s vibrant book industry. This session will highlight key opportunities, challenges, and cultural factors influencing publishing, distribution, and bookselling in Italy.  

  AFTERNOON

   13.15 - 14.05 

EIBF: Who are we and what do we do? 

Learn more about your host, the creator of RISE Bookselling: the European and Interna-tional Booksellers Federation. Who are we, how long have we been around, and how do we advocate for the interests of booksellers around the world from our small office in Brussels?

   AFTERNOON

   15.30 - 16.20 

Ignite Session: The one thing that works wonders in your store 

Ignite talks are fast-paced, energetic, presentations designed to inspire the audience. In just 6 minutes and not more than 24 slides, speakers share one idea or initiative that has made a difference for them. The session invites booksellers to present practical and innovative ideas that have transformed their work.

Monday Sessions

Monday Panels

   MORNING

   10.20 – 11.10 

Going beyond Western narratives: curating international representation 

How do we decide which stories are shared in the bookshop, and how do we ensure that voices from diverse backgrounds are represented? Literature is a powerful window into the world, and curating a bookshop’s stock comes with responsibility. In this session, we will hear from booksellers about how they work to amplify voices that represent international perspectives.

   MORNING

   10.20 – 11.10 

Going through a successful bookshop succession 

In this panel you will learn about how the Spanish Booksellers Association (CEGAL) supports their members in succession planning, as well as the story of two booksellers from different parts of Europe who have navigated the complex process of passing on or taking over a shop. From financial planning and legal frameworks to leadership shifts and preserving a bookshop’s identity, this panel explores the challenges, emotional dimensions, and practical lessons behind succession, offering in-sights for those preparing the next chapter of their bookshop’s story.

   MORNING

   10.20 – 11.10 

All you need to know about THEMA  

Have you got a book set in Verona? A bookseller’s guide to THEMA and how publishers can help you sell books. Honestly.

   MORNING

   11.40 - 12.30 

From green practices to long-term resilience: the making of sustainable bookshops 

This panel explores how environmental responsibility connects with financial stability and community strength. Moving beyond quick fixes, this panel examines practical green initiatives, asking how our choices can build sustainable, future-ready bookshops.

   MORNING

   11.40 - 12.30 

Everyone is welcome in the team: ensuring inclusivity and representation in your workforce 

How can we ensure that staff members feel welcomed and represented in the bookshop? In this session, we will explore initiatives aimed at diversifying today’s bookselling workforce and creating more inclusive spaces for our communities.

   MORNING

   11.40 - 12.30 

Reading starts here: reading promotion across the sector 

Many initiatives exist across the book sector with the aim of empowering young readers and communities that are distant from the habit of reading. In this session, we spotlight three inspiring initiatives aiming to find out more about their strategies on how to create engaged readers in their community.

   AFTERNOON

   13.50 – 14.40 

Bookselling perspectives on AI   

This panel examines the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in today’s book trade from the perspectives of booksellers and bookseller associations. You will hear different viewpoints on how AI is already shaping bookselling today, exploring both the opportunities and the challenges.  

  AFTERNOON

   13.50 – 14.40 

How to build a diverse and profitable events offer 

Bookshops are on the forefront of innovation, creatively using their spaces and serving their communities, whether through author events, book launches, BookTok meetups, story-time events for young children or other engaging activities. Discover how to develop a truly diverse and profitable events offer for your shop.

   AFTERNOON

   13.50 – 14.40 

Bookshops under attack: risks, responsibilities, and the power of political engagement 

Bookshops stand as bastions of free expression in our communities. Stepping inside, we encounter a rich world of ideas and perspectives - a proof of democracy in action. Yet, booksellers are feeling the weight of a hostile climate, marked by rising political polarisation, attacks and censorship. How can booksellers organise to de-fend shared values and ensure bookshops’ resilience?

Monday Workshops

   MORNING

   10.20 – 11.10 

My shelf and me: Let’s talk self-censorship in the bookshop       

Reports of physical attacks on bookshops, book bans, and waves of negative online comments can subtly influence what reaches the shelves. In this bookseller-to-bookseller conversation, we’ll reflect on fear and responsibility, asking when caution becomes self-censorship, and how bookshops can remain spaces for political dialogue and hubs of intellectual freedom for communities, while caring for safety of staff.

  MONDAY

   11.40 - 12.30 

My staff and me: Let’s talk people management

From recruitment and motivation to feedback, conflict, and wellbeing, this interactive workshop creates space to reflect on your management style, share challenges, and develop practical tools to lead and support your team in the bookshop.  

   AFTERNOON

   13.50 – 14.40 

My shop and me: Let’s talk about failures & challenges 

This workshop creates a candid space for booksellers to reflect on setbacks, tough decisions, and everyday pressures. We’ll unpack what failure can teach us by sharing experiences, normalising challenges, and identifying practical ways to adapt, recover, and grow stronger. 

What to expect:

Discover new ideas to implement in your bookshop

Learn how the bookselling business works in other countries

Hear from inspirational keynote speakers

Exchange experiences with booksellers from all over the world

Accommodation 

FAQs

Who can join?
Booksellers and book sector professionals from all over the world are invited to join the RISE Bookselling conference.

When will the conference take place?
The 4th edition of the RISE Bookselling Conference will be held as a two-day event on 19–20 April 2026.

On 18 April in the afternoon, participants will have the opportunity to join a Verona bookshop and city tour, followed by a welcome reception. Please note that places for the tour are limited, both for logistical reasons and to ensure the best possible experience for attendees.

Participation in the bookshop tour automatically includes access to the welcome reception. This year, however, it will also be possible to attend the welcome reception without joining the tour.

Where will the conference take place?
The conference will be hosted in Verona, Italy, at the Verona Chamber of Commerce (Corso Porta Nuova n. 96).

How much does it cost to attend the RISE Conference?
To ensure we continue providing a high-quality experience at the RISE Bookselling Conference and to be able to keep organising it in the many years to come, we had to slightly increase the participation fee we introduced last year.

This adjustment is not only necessary to meet the significant costs of organising the event, but also helps us ensure that we can continue covering the bulk of expenses on behalf of participants. By asking for this small contribution, we are able to maintain a rich programme and deliver real value to everyone attending. In return, participants enjoy four coffee breaks, two lunches, one dinner, and two evening drinks receptions — important moments for networking and exchange. While our sponsors provide invaluable support, their contribution only covers a fraction of the overall costs, making the participation fee an essential part of ensuring the quality and sustainability of the conference experience, as well as still allowing for the participation of a large number of booksellers coming from very different economic backgrounds around the world.

Conference only (members): 60€
Conference only (non-members): 85€
All in (conference + bookshop tour + welcome reception - members only): 80€
Bookshop tour + welcome reception (non-members): 25€
Welcome reception only (members & non-members): 15€

Can I benefit from the 'members' rate when registering for the conference? 
Conference members rate applies to: 

• Staff of booksellers associations in membership with EIBF
• Booksellers members of associations part of the EIBF network
• EIBF Associate members

Unsure whether your national booksellers association is in membership with EIBF? You can verify here 

All other participants are requested to purchase 'non-members' tickets

What if I cannot make it anymore and need to cancel?
Cancellation Policy: Conference participants may cancel their registration by March 15, 2026 for a full refund, minus a 5€ cancellation fee. Unfortunately, registrations canceled after March 15, 2026 are nonrefundable regardless of circumstances. Conference participants may transfer their registration to another individual from their shop/organisation on or before March 29, 2026.
All requests for transfers and cancellations must be made in writing to info@risebookselling.eu

In which language will the conference be held?
The event will be conducted in English. However, interpretation services may be arranged if there is sufficient demand. To help us assess this, we kindly ask participants to indicate their interest in interpretation when registering for the RISE Conference. Please note that services can only be confirmed once at least 50 attendees request the same language, as this threshold is necessary for us to be able to offer interpretation in a sound financial and logistics way.

How to travel to Verona?
Reaching Verona is very easy. If you arrive by plane at Verona’s Catullo Airport, the Verona Airlink shuttle runs every 20 minutes and takes you to Verona Porta Nuova train station in about 15/20 minutes. From other airports, like Venice Marco Polo or Milan Malpensa, you can reach Verona by first taking a local shuttle bus or train to the main stations (respectively Venezia Mestre or Piazzale Roma close to Venezia Santa Lucia train station, or Milano Centrale) and then continuing by train to Verona Porta Nuova. Verona is well connected by regional (R) and fast regional (RV) trains, operated by Trenitalia or Trenord, as well as high-speed trains like Frecciarossa and Italo.

For those wishing to travel with a lower carbon footprint, you can also find affordable international train routes from various European cities to Verona on major travel websites such as Omio or Trainline. For example, you can easily get to Verona from Paris or Berlin by train in under a day!

Watch the highlights from the previous editions of the RISE Bookselling Conference!

© FOTOMALÝ / RISE Bookselling

© Jaleo Estudio / RISE Bookselling

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