The ILAB Congress Returns to Germany: Join us in Berlin in September 2026

From 14 to 17 September 2026, Berlin will welcome antiquarian booksellers from across the globe for the 46th ILAB Congress, the first ILAB Congress in Germany since 1992, when the international trade gathered in Cologne. After more than three decades, the Verband Deutscher Antiquare (VDA) is delighted to once again host ILAB’s international community and to present one of Europe’s most dynamic cultural capitals to colleagues, collectors, and bibliophiles from around the world.

Berlin - A City of Art, Books & Culture

For the first time in ILAB’s nearly 80-year history, the congress will take place in Berlin, a metropolis whose history, architecture, and cultural institutions provide an exceptional backdrop for exploring the world of books. Few cities have reinvented themselves as often as Berlin: once the seat of Prussian kings, later the stage of the Weimar Republic’s artistic flourishing, then divided by dictatorship and the Cold War, and today a vibrant centre of creativity and research.
All of these layers remain visible, preserved in the city’s archives, libraries, museums, and collections, which will open their doors to congress participants.

Exploring Berlin’s Hidden and Famous Book Treasures

Congress attendees will get privileged access to some of Berlin’s most significant repositories of cultural memory, many of them rarely accessible to the public. Guided by directors, curators, and librarians, participants will visit institutions such as:

• the German Historical Museum, home to the first German printing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776)
• the Jewish Museum Library, offering insight into one of Berlin’s most important cultural histories
• the Academy of Arts, with its unparalleled artists’ estates
• the outstanding Lipperheide Costume Library
• the Charité Medical History Library with its legendary anatomical theatre
• the specialist scientific collections of the Museum für Naturkunde, from zoology to mineralogy
• the Stasi Archives in Lichtenberg, where original records show the realities of East German history

One of the great highlights will be a full day at the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin on the famous boulevard Unter den Linden and the iconic Scharoun Building on Potsdamer Strasse. Participants will see incunabula, manuscripts, music autographs, maps, and treasures such as the B-42 Gutenberg Bible and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony manuscript. The Staatsbibliothek will also host the 5th ILAB Symposium, bringing together booksellers, librarians, collectors, and scholars.

Beyond its 3-day programme, the ILAB Congress is above all a place of meeting and networking. It offers opportunities to exchange knowledge with colleagues from around the world, to strengthen international relationships, and to discover new perspectives on the trade.

A congress in Berlin would not be complete without exploring the city’s grandeur. A scenic excursion by boat will lead participants past architectural landmarks: Peacock Island, Babelsberg Palace, and the Glienicke “Bridge of Spies” on the way to Potsdam and Sanssouci, Frederick the Great’s elegant summer residence. The congress finale will take place high above Berlin’s rooftops at the Humboldt Forum, with views of Museum Island and the cathedral.

Accommodation and Practical Information

The congress hotel, The Westin Grand Berlin, will serve as the central meeting point. Located at the corner of Unter den Linden and Friedrichstraße, it stands as one of the last architectural monuments of the late East German era and is within walking distance of many cultural highlights. A limited number of rooms have been reserved at a special rate for early bookings.

Participants are of course welcome to choose from Berlin’s wide range of hotels across all price categories.

Registrations Are Now Open

The Verband Deutscher Antiquare warmly invites all ILAB-affiliated booksellers and their partners to participate in this inspiring and unforgettable event. Registration is now open and all information can be found on the website: www.rarebookweek.berlin. Early booking is strongly encouraged.

After more than 30 years, the ILAB Congress returns to Germany - join us in Berlin to celebrate the world of rare books.

AMOR LIBRORUM NOS UNIT — The love of books unites us.