Chaos and Crowding at New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 Following Free Book Giveaway

The New Delhi World Book Fair 2026, held from January 10 to 18 at Bharat Mandapam, saw chaotic scenes on its final day after free book giveaways at certain stalls, notably Bloomsbury. Viral videos showed crowds rushing, grabbing, and climbing shelves to collect books, leading to overwhelmed staff and public criticism over crowd management and civic behavior. Some reports also mentioned alleged misconduct, including groping, sparking wider debates on public decency and the commodification of books at cultural events.