Germany and Poland have been named the focus countries for the sixth Paris Book Market (PBM), scheduled for June 9–11, 2027, at the Centquatre in Paris.
Organizers France Livre confirmed the selection, aiming to sustain growth after the 2026 edition facilitated 5,000 professional meetings across 50 international markets.
- German publishing faces a 2.7% contraction, while Poland moves toward digital-first distribution and aggressive discounting.
The selection of Germany as a focus country marks a return to the French professional stage, following its last significant spotlight at the 2019 Paris Book Fair. The German publishing sector currently faces a period of structural adjustment.
According to data from the Börsenverein, the German publishing association, the domestic market recorded a valuation of 9.62 billion euros in 2025, a decline of 2.7%. The first half of 2026 showed continued pressure, with value falling 4.1% and volume dropping 4.5%.
Publishers are responding to these headwinds by reducing output. Industry data shows 52,644 new titles released, a 9.8% reduction, as firms increasingly rely on backlist stability, which currently accounts for 57% of total sales. Rights exports have also hit a decade-low, with 6,137 contracts ceded—a decline of 8.0%. Despite these figures, the German market remains a significant importer, with translations into German rising to 16.1% of all new releases.
Poland’s publishing sector, valued at approximately 1 billion euros, presents a starkly different profile characterized by rapid digitalization. While print volume remains stable, the average book price of 6.95 euros is the lowest among the ten European markets tracked by NielsenIQ BookData. More than half of sales now occur online, a trend accelerated by deep discounting strategies on new releases.
The dominance of platforms like Allegro, which moved 26 million units, has pushed traditional brick-and-mortar retail to a secondary position. There are currently 1,621 active bookstores in Poland, a count that continues to trend downward. Legislators are now considering a draft law to mandate a minimum 10% royalty for authors, a measure intended to stabilize the domestic creator economy.
| Market Indicator | Germany (2025) | Poland (2025/26) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Market Value | 9.62 Billion EUR | ~1.0 Billion EUR |
| Primary Sales Channel | Physical Retail (40.8%) | Online/E-commerce (>50%) |
| Audio Segment Growth | +13.2% | ~8% of total market value |
| New Title Output | 52,644 (-9.8%) | N/A |
In Germany, the audio market reached 374 million euros in 2025, expanding by 13.2% even as the broader market declined. Streaming and downloads now command 94.6% of this sector, with CD sales falling by 18.4%. The Hörbuch Kompass report suggests this growth is driven by increased spending from existing users rather than an influx of new listeners, indicating the segment is reaching maturity.
Poland’s audio market, valued at 94 million euros, is seeing intense competition between subscription platforms. While services like Storytel and Empik Go report user growth between 55% and 60%, incumbents like Legimi have faced revenue pressure, reporting a 10% decline. The entry of Spotify in October, distributing 20,000 Polish titles through Legimi Content, shows a move toward collaborative distribution models as platforms increasingly invest in local production of audio series.
As Yannick Dehée of Nouveau Monde éditions noted during the June session, there is a clear acceleration in the acquisition of audio rights.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
