“Amazon is not a friend of books”: angry, the French Bookstore Union will boycott the Book Fair

The French Bookstore Union (SLF) will not participate in the 2026 edition of the Paris Book Fair (April 17-19), it announced on Monday, denouncing the partnership between the festival and the American e-commerce giant Amazon. “Amazon is not a friend of books,” writes the professional organization of independent booksellers in a press release, for whom “it constitutes, through its power and its predatory and hegemonic aims, a major risk for authors, publishers and booksellers.”

“It therefore seems irresponsible, in the name of short-term financial interests, to offer Amazon such visibility and honorability on the occasion of an event which aims to be the showcase of French creation and publishing,” adds the organization which brings together nearly 850 bookstores in France. It also encourages “all booksellers, book professionals and readers sensitive to the preservation of books and their economy to do the same”.

Between Amazon and the bookselling sector in France, tensions are high, particularly around the interpretation of a law which, since October 2023, imposes shipping costs of at least 3 euros for all shipments of new books. Amazon France considers in particular that this provision allows it to deliver free of charge to its lockers, while representatives of the sector consider that the giant is trying to circumvent the law.

The American group announced at the beginning of February that it would be a “partner” of the Paris Book Fair, building on its “25 years of serving readers and books in France”. The Paris Book Fair, which will once again be held at the Grand Palais, welcomed 114,000 visitors in 2025. Some 1,200 authors will be present, as well as 450 publishing houses.