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Participation by foreign publishers is a novelty this year, as organizers seek to go international and expand the content and the events outside the cultural centre of Cankarjev dom.

Another novelty is the reintroduction of the Grand Prix for the book of the year. The winner will be selected by the visitors among the five books shortlisted by a judging panel.

Several other awards will also be presented during the fair, including the award for best literary debut and the Schwentner Prize for exceptional contribution to the development of the fair.

The latter will be presented at the launch on Tuesday evening, which will also feature a ceremony to be addressed by poet and writer Ciril Zlobec as the guest of honour.

Open for the general public between Wednesday and Sunday, the fair will showcase 100 exhibitors and more than 220 accompanying events.

Chairman of the fair's managing board Zdravko Kafol highlighted the gastronomic section of the fair called KulinArtfest, which will see 16 chefs perform their artistry.

The annual publishers' academy on Wednesday will focus on Scottish publishing, to be presented in facts and figures by director of the local publishing association Marion Sinclair.

Also presented will be the findings of a comparable study on the publishing industry in Slovenia and Scotland.

The foreign rights director at Gallimard, Anne Solange, will speak about new trends for French literature in foreign markets, with another debate focusing on reading culture and book-shopping trends in Slovenia.

The main exhibition will pay tribute to Kekec, the iconic child book and film character, to mark the 130th anniversary of the birth of its creator Josip Vandot (1884-1944).