By Erin L. Cox, Publisher | @erinlcox
Each year, Frankfurter Buchmesse supports continuing education and networking opportunities for international publishing professionals through a number of programs.Partnering with national and international organizations, these grants and fellowships allow participants to continue to improve their business through focused training, attendance at literary festivals and the annual Frankfurter Buchmesse, and more. Applications are now open for 2026 in categories detailed below.
Frankfurt Global Network
The Frankfurt Global Network, which launched last year and merged two previously existing programs – the Frankfurt Fellows and the Invitation Program – offers young publishers, rights managers and editors from all over the world opportunities for additional training and education as well as networking. This year’s focus is on comics, manga, and visual stories.
The program is a combination of online meetings, which will begin in July, and the in-person program which runs from September 28 to October 12. The in-person program welcome this year’s group to Frankfurt for market presentations, visits to publishers and bookstores throughout Germany, and ending with attendance at this year’s book fair where the fellows will be featured at a collective stand.
Applicants must have at least three years of professional experience and a good command of English. The deadline for applications is April 30. To apply, click here.
“Volia” – Special Program for publishers from Ukraine and neighboring countries
The Special Program for publishers from Ukraine and neighboring countries is aimed at publishers, editors, rights managers, and literary agents from Armenia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and Ukraine.
The program is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office and curated and organized by Frankfurter Buchmesse in cooperation with the International Book Arsenal Festival, the Goethe-Institut Ukraine, and the industry platform Chytomo.
Attendees will participate in specialist seminars and networking events both online and in-person in Frankfurt.
Applicants must have two years of professional experience in publishing with a focus on rights and licensing, as well as a good command of English. The deadline for applications is April 10. To apply, click here.
Paris-Frankfurt Fellowship for young professionals in the book trade and publishing industry
Over the last 30 years, more than 600 up-and-coming book professionals from Germany and France have participated in this exchange program which provides access and networking in their neighborign country and helps participants acquire new professional, linguistic, and intercultural skills.
This program takes place from June 15 – July 2 and is funded by the Franco-German Youth Office (DFJW) together with the program partners Frankfurter Buchmesse and France Livre. During the study trips in Germany and France, participants receive a scholarship of €450 from the DFJW.
The application deadline is March 16. Click here for more information.
Goldschmidt+ for young literary translators
Though the participants for this year’s program have already been selected, Goldschmidt+ is back again. This program seeks to provide continuous education to translators from Austria, Switzerland, France, and Germany who previously participated in the classic Goldschmidt program.
The Goldschmidt+ program 2026 comprises four modules, which will take place throughout the year in Germany, Switzerland, and France. Each module is linked to a local literary festival or book fair to highlight the work of literary translators and provide them with further training and networking opportunities within the industry.
Goldschmidt+ is jointly organized by the Frankfurter Buchmesse, France Livre, and the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, and supported by the Franco-German Youth Office (DFJW).
For more information about the Goldschmidt program and how to participate, click here.