Along with some 30 countries around the globe, Slovenia celebrates World Book Day every year on 23rd April, which has been designated by UNESCO as the day of worldwide celebration of books and reading. To observe this occasion, the Slovene Writers’ Association organised the first Slovene Book Days as a one-day event in 1996. Since 1998 it has taken the form of a five-day open-air book fair, involving the majority of Slovene publishers. Since 1997 Slovene Book Days has also taken place in other Slovene city centres: in Maribor (organised jointly with MKC Maribor), Celje, Koper, Velenje, Piran, Izola, Kranj, Novo mesto, and Krško. The book fairs are accompanied by daily literary readings, book launches, concerts, workshops, book presentations and performances, discussions and a rich cultural entertainment programme. At the opening ceremony of Slovene Book Days at Mestni trg in Ljubljana, the winner of the Best Short Story Award is announced. Taking place during Slovene Book Days in Maribor is also the finale of the Poetry Tournament organised by Pivec Publishing House.