International Publishers Congress

IPA Congress 2026 Info Pack
Latest update: July 2st, 2026, 06:08pm

As you prepare for your journey, please find below some important information regarding your arrival, transportation, congress programme, and optional tours.

A. Before You Travel

Ensure your passport is valid for at least six (6) months beyond your date of arrival in Malaysia.

Malaysia offers visa-free entry to many countries. First, verify if your country of citizenship requires a visa to enter Malaysia. Please check the official list here: [Check the list of countries that require a visa to Malaysia]

If a visa is required, you must apply online through the official Malaysian Immigration portal. We recommend applying for the Visa Without Reference (VTR) to attend a conference.
[Apply for a Visa Without Reference (VTR) here]

Please ensure you have:

  • Passport with sufficient validity
  • Return or onward ticket
  • Hotel booking confirmation
  • Congress registration confirmation
  • Travel insurance (recommended)
  • Filled up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)

Foreign visitors are required to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card before arrival.
Please complete and submit your MDAC within 3 days before arrival. MDAC is available here: https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main

Make sure you have your smart phone working and ready to be used during the Congress. Although most of the sessions will be conducted in English, there are selection sessions that will be spoken in Malay, and Mandarin. We will be using Wordly, a real-time AI application that translates all our sessions into any language that can be accessible on your phone, either in text form or audio. You will need your earphones. Make sure to pack your earphones with you. For Q&A during all sessions, we will be using Slido, an interactive Q&A application that allows you to ask questions as you listen to the ongoing sessions for the moderator to pick up and ask the speakers on your behalf. This saves time and makes the event runs smoother.

You don’t need to install any of the apps as they are accessible whenever you need it by scanning the QR code that will be shared during the sessions.

B. Arriving in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is served by two airport terminals: KLIA Terminal 1 (KLIA) and KLIA Terminal 2 (KLIA2). Both terminals offer convenient transportation options to the city centre

KLIA EKSPRES is the Preferred Airport Transfer Service Provider to all our international delegates who will arrive for the 35th International Publishers Congress in Kuala Lumpur next month.

For a small fee, delegates can enjoy VIP treatment from the moment they clear immigration at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). A dedicated porter will assist them with collecting their luggage and escort them directly to the KLIA Ekspres high-speed train for a seamless journey from the airport to KL Sentral Station. Upon arrival, a limousine will be waiting to transfer them to their hotel or to the congress venue hotel, the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.

This service will be provided complimentary to all international speakers, members of the Executive Committee of the International Publishers Association (IPA), and IPA officers. No booking required. Please go to the KLIA Ekpres counter right after immigration clearance heading towards the baggage reclaim area where you will see your name on their screen.

KLIA EKSPRES avoids traffic for most of the journey, saves time, and reduces carbon footprint.

  1. KLIA Ekspres VIP Service: One-way ticket RM145 (US$35) per person (BOOKING MUST BE MADE AT LEAST 24 HOURS BEFORE ARRIVAL)
    1. For every additional adult, add on RM45 (US$11); Upsize the limousine to vehicle to a van, add on RM45 (US$11).
    2. Make your booking at www.kliaekspress.com with promo code: IPC2026
  1. KLIA Ekspress Train to KL Sentral Station: One-way ticket RM49.50 (US$12) or Return ticket RM85 (US$20) per person
    1. Pick up your luggage and go straight to the KLIA Ekspres terminal at the airport.
    2. Take the high-speed train to KL Sentral Station.
    3. Take a taxi or Grab from KL Sentral Station to your hotel.
    4. Make your booking at www.kliaekspress.com with promo code: IPC2026

Grab is Malaysia’s leading e-hailing service and provides the most convenient door-to-door transportation option from the airport to your hotel. Dedicated Grab pick-up points are located on Level 1 at both airport terminals. Upon arrival, simply follow the signs marked “E-Hailing” to reach the designated pick-up area.

  • Estimated fare: RM70–RM120 (US$17 – $30)
  • Travel time: 45–60 minutes, depending on traffic

Delegates are encouraged to download the Grab app prior to their arrival in Malaysia. Grab is the country’s most popular ride-hailing platform and can also be used to order food and other deliveries.

  • Airport Taxi: Available at both terminals (RM90–RM150 or US$22 – $36; approximately 45–60 minutes)

C. Congress Venue & Claiming Your Congress Pass

VENUE
The congress will take place at:

Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
12 Jalan Pinang
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

The venue is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s city centre, within walking distance of restaurants, shopping centres, pharmacies, convenience stores, and many of the city’s key attractions.

CLAIMING YOUR CONGRESS PASS

To collect your Congress pass, simply present the QR code sent to your registered email address at the registration counter in the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. Our team will scan the QR code to verify your registration before issuing your pass.

You can claim your Congress pass from 4th July, at 10am. Our counter at Floor 39 (hotel check in floor) opens on 4th and 5th from 10am to 10pm.

On 6th and 7th July, our counter will be just outside the Grand Ballroom on the Ground Floor.

D. Congress Transportation

Complimentary shuttle services will be provided between Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (Congress Venue) and Hotel Maya Kuala Lumpur.

Participants staying at Hotel Maya, or within walking distance of the hotel, are welcome to utilize the shuttle service.

Please register if you would like to be picked up at Hotel Maya:  [ REGISTER NOW! ]

Date Route Time
6 July
Hotel Maya → Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
8:00 AM
6 July
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur → Hotel Maya
6:00 PM
7 July
Hotel Maya → Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
8:00 AM
7 July
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur → Hotel Maya
11:00 PM

Participants are encouraged to arrive at the pick-up point at least 10 minutes before departure.

E. Congress Programme

The congress programme features keynote presentations, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and interactive breakout sessions with publishing professionals from around the world. For information on our speakers, please refer here: https://publisherscongress.com/speakers-v2/

Day 1, 6th July 2026 (Monday): https://publisherscongress.com/6-july-2026-monday/

Day 2, 7th July 2026 (Tuesday): https://publisherscongress.com/7-july-2026-tuesday/

The congress includes breakout sessions, each offering concurrent sessions covering topics such as AI, accessibility, indigenous languages, educational publishing, freedom to publish, reading habits, and cross-cultural storytelling. There will also be Round Table Talks where you have the opportunity to engage with some of our speakers who are world experts at what they do. The Round Table Talks will be conducted in the Business Matching Room.

We encourage participants to review the programme in advance and begin planning their congress experience.

The IPA Congress 2026 Gala Dinner will be held on 7th July 2026,  7.30pm-10.30pm at the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.

The IPA Innovation Award
and IPA Champion Award will be presented during the course of the dinner. We will also be celebrating IPA’s 130th Anniversary that evening. All delegates are invited.

Dress Code: Formal (not black-tie)

No Dinner Provided on  6th July 2026

There will no dinner provided by the program on 6th of July, as we would like you to explore the wonderful cuisines either at the nearby malls or the street food markets that Kuala Lumpur is well known for.

Next to the Grand Hyatt hotel is the Suria KLCC Mall (with lots of food outlets) which is located at the foot of the Petronas Twin Towers. The view of the towers at night is breathtaking as you would definitely enjoy the water fountain show right after dinner.

The popular Jalan Alor will be your go-to place for an exciting experience savouring our local street food that you can reach by Grab e-hailing service. It will take about 10-15 minutes by car. 

Slide Presentation

AI is No Longer a Toy

IPA EPF Global Survey of Educational Publishing

What is transmedia?

Korea's GenAI Publishing Lesson

The Inteligent Arabic Publishing Pipeline

28 Hedwige

Redefinition of Boundaries

Innovative Practices in Educational Publishing amid Digital and Intellingent Transformation

F. Business Matching

For the first time at an IPA Congress, there will be a business matching room provided. It will be at The Grand Residence Room 101, Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.

Business Matching at the 35th IPA Congress 2026 will be using the Asian Rights Fair (ARF) platform, a premier platform for rights trading in the region, owned by Perbadanan Kota Buku, a government-linked company.

On 30th June, we had a virtual briefing on how to use the ARF @ IPA Congress 2026 business matching system. The session was recorded. The following was shared during the session:

If there are any technical questions or anything else related to the business matching app, please email to arf.kotabuku@jublia.co for our team from Jublia to assist you.


Delegates who wish to take part in Business Matching during the Congress must register here:

G. The Greater Kuala Lumpur City Book Tour and Cultural Tour

Participants are invited to join two complimentary tours organised alongside the congress.

Date: 5 July 2026 (Half-day Tour, Lunch is provided)
Assembly Time: 9.00AM (Bus leaves at 9.30AM)
Assembly Point: Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

Highlights:

  • Raja Tun Uda Library (Selangor State Public Library), Shah Alam


    Malaysia’s premier world-class public library, located just outside the Kuala Lumpur city center in the scenic city of Shah Alam, this award-winning, six-storey architectural masterpiece perfectly exemplifies how modern societies can completely revolutionize public reading spaces.
    Welcoming over one million visitors annually under its inspiring “My Second Home” philosophy, it beautifully pairs extensive literary collections with the country’s most advanced library technology.

    Visitors will be fascinated by its cutting-edge infrastructure, featuring high-speed digital co-working zones, state-of-the-art virtual reality spaces, and interactive multimedia theaters. Framed by floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering panoramic views of a tranquil lake and the iconic Blue Mosque, it provides a breathtaking, serene environment to reflect on vital congress themes like accessibility and reading promotion.

    Entirely free to enter, Pustaka Raja Tun Uda seamlessly bridges traditional Malaysian cultural warmth with futuristic innovation. It is an unmissable destination for any global publishing professional looking to witness community-driven literacy in action. Discover the vibrant heart of Selangor’s modern reading culture and enrich your Congress experience from this visit!

    In conjunction with the IPA Congress 2026, the library celebrates the 200th anniversary of Carlo Collodi, creator of Pinocchio with the Pinocchio Illustration Exhibition, brought to you especially in partnership with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, also a partner of the Congress.

  • The Library, by BookXcess (ASEAN’s largest 24/7 Bookstore)

    Step into a literal dream world at The Library by BookXcess, located on Level 2 of Sunway Square Mall. Spanning a massive 38,000 square feet over two floors, this breathtaking flagship location holds the title of Southeast Asia’s largest 24-hour bookstore. It is a surreal literary sanctuary housing over one million affordably priced books amidst towering, floor-to-ceiling shelves and nearly one kilometer of winding walkways.

    Designed as a “library that never sleeps,” it functions as a vibrant cultural hub rather than just a store. Visitors are greeted by stunning, museum-worthy art installations, including thousands of “Flying Books” suspended in mid-air and the dramatic Whale Fall ceiling sculpture crafted by local artist CO2 from rescued, flood-damaged books. Architectural “Cones” pay a creative tribute to Sunway’s historical tin-mining heritage, perfectly blending the past with modern, Instagrammable aesthetics.

    Beyond its endless maze of fiction and non-fiction, the space is meticulously built for lingering, study, and late-night inspiration. Cozy reading nooks, open collaborative workspaces, and a majestic grand piano sit alongside incredible lifestyle partners. You can grab a freshly brewed coffee from Kenny Hills Bakers, enjoy refreshing sips at Good Mojo Smoothies, or browse chic apparel at FRAK/TURE Fashion Studio. Complete with panoramic evening views overlooking the tranquil Sunway South Quay lake, it is an absolute must-visit destination for bookworms, night owls, and creative minds alike. 

Date: 8 July 2026 (Full and Half-day tour option)
Assembly Time: 8.30AM (Bus leaves at 9.00AM)
Assembly Point: Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

*Note: For those who have a flight to catch later in the day, please check out from your hotel and bring your luggage along. One bus will leave for the airport right after lunch at 2.00PM and will reach the airport before 3.00PM.

Highlights:

  • Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex
    The Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex is a vibrant cultural oasis located along Jalan Conlay in the heart of the city. Designed like a traditional Malay village, this iconic artistic hub celebrates Malaysia’s rich artisanal heritage. Visitors can explore the Craft Museum to learn about ancient textile weaving, pottery, and woodcarving techniques. At the lively Artists’ Colony, you can watch master craftsmen work or participate in hands-on batik painting workshops. The vast retail showroom offers authentic, high-quality handmade souvenirs, from intricate songket fabrics to beautiful rattan baskets. It is the ultimate destination to experience Malaysia’s living cultural traditions.
  • Batu Caves
    Batu Caves is a majestic limestone hill located just north of Kuala Lumpur. Estimated to be over 400 million years old, this geologically fascinating site serves as one of the most important Hindu shrines outside India. Guarding the entrance is a breathtaking, 140-foot golden statue of Lord Murugan, one of the tallest statues of its kind globally. To reach the sacred Temple Cave, visitors must climb 272 vibrant, rainbow-colored steps while dodging playful wild monkeys. The complex completely transforms during the annual Thaipusam festival, drawing over 2.5 million global devotees and tourists in a massive celebration of faith and culture.
  • Putrajaya
    Putrajaya is Malaysia’s futuristic federal administrative center and a magnificent testament to modern urban planning. Designed as an “Intelligent Garden City,” this stunning metropolis seamlessly blends grand, late-20th-century architecture with sprawling green parks and scenic man-made wetlands. Its defining landmarks include the majestic, pink-domed Putra Mosque and the imposing, green-domed Perdana Putra prime ministerial complex. Visitors can take a relaxing cruise across the massive Putrajaya Lake, marvel at the futuristic architecture of the Seri Wawasan Bridge, or explore the lush Botanical Garden. It offers a peaceful, beautifully manicured contrast to the bustling energy of neighboring Kuala Lumpur.

    * Delegates will be treated for lunch at Restoran Rebung 2 by Chef Ismail in Putrajaya that serves an authentic Malay buffet. Diners can feast on traditional heritage dishes like flavorful masak lemak while enjoying breathtaking panoramic lakeside views.

  • Central Market

    Central Market, affectionately known as Pasar Seni, is a beloved cultural landmark in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Established in 1888 as a simple wet market, this iconic pastel-blue Art Deco building has evolved into the ultimate hub for Malaysian arts, crafts, and heritage. Inside, the market is thoughtfully divided into cultural zones—such as Lorong Melayu, Straits Chinese, and Lorong India—reflecting Malaysia’s rich diversity. It is the premier destination to shop for authentic hand-drawn batik, traditional songket textiles, intricately carved souvenirs, and local collectibles. Located right next to the Pasar Seni MRT/LRT station, it offers an immersive, indoor look at the nation’s vibrant soul.

  • Merdeka Square
    Merdeka Square and the adjacent River of Life form the historic heart of Kuala Lumpur. Merdeka Square is where Malaysia declared independence in 1957, featuring a 95-meter flagpole, a lush green lawn, and the stunning 19th-century Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Just behind it, the River of Life project has transformed the convergence of the Klang and Gombak rivers into a vibrant waterfront. At night, the area comes alive with a misty blue light show, fountains, and music. This beautiful intersection perfectly blends Malaysia’s deep colonial history with striking modern urban renewal.

  • Durian Tasting
    Known as the “King of Fruits,” durian is famous for its thorny husk, creamy custard-like flesh, and notoriously pungent aroma. While its intense smell splits opinion worldwide, its rich, sweet-savory flavor makes it a prized culinary delicacy across Southeast Asia, with premium local varieties like Musang King fetching top dollar.

     

H. Useful Travel Information

Information Details
Weather
24°C–33°C, warm and humid with occasional rain
Dress Code
Business casual
Currency
Malaysian Ringgit (MYR); 1 USD = 4 MYR
Time Zone
GMT +8
Language
English is widely spoken
Recommended Apps
Grab, Google Maps

For the optional tours, we recommend comfortable clothing, walking shoes, and bringing a light umbrella or rain jacket.

I. Need Assistance?

Should you require any assistance regarding your arrival or transportation arrangements, or an emergency, please contact the Congress Secretariat:

Email: ipcongress@mabopa.com.my
WhatsApp: +6012 316 3236 (Ms. Irdahwati)

We wish you a pleasant journey and look forward to welcoming you to Kuala Lumpur soon.

Warm regards,

IPA Congress Secretariat