Belgrade, the vibrant capital of Serbia, continues to thrive as a literary and publishing hub in 2025. The city’s publishing industry blends rich cultural heritage with modern innovation, offering opportunities for both emerging and established authors. From large, commercially driven publishers to independent presses and academic imprints, Belgrade’s book scene reflects a balance between tradition and creativity. Whether you’re an aspiring novelist, a researcher, or a storyteller with a unique vision, Belgrade’s publishers provide the expertise, networks, and passion to bring stories to life and connect them with readers across Serbia and beyond.
1. Barnett Ghostwriting
In Belgrade’s contemporary literary ecosystem, Barnett operates as a hybrid service — combining bespoke ghostwriting and editorial support with small-scale publishing and author services for writers who want a hands-on partner. The business model emphasizes collaboration: many of its projects begin as ghostwritten manuscripts that the firm helps refine, design and bring to market through print-on-demand and regional distribution partnerships.
- Focus: ghostwriting, manuscript development, small-batch publishing and marketing services.
- Strengths: intensive editorial collaboration, author coaching, flexible production options.
- Best for: first-time authors who want a guided route from idea to published book, memoirs, and niche non-fiction.
2. Laguna
Laguna is widely recognized as one of Serbia’s largest and most influential trade publishers, with a strong presence in Belgrade and nationwide distribution. Founded in the late 1990s, it publishes a wide range of genres — from mainstream fiction and translated international authors to essays and popular non-fiction — and has an established retail and club network that connects readers across the country. Laguna’s scale means it can invest in design, marketing and translation rights, making it a go-to partner for both commercial Serbian authors and international titles translated into Serbian.
- Focus: mainstream fiction, quality translations, non-fiction, children’s books.
- Strengths: strong retail footprint, substantial backlist, professional production values.
- Best for: authors seeking wide Serbian distribution and established marketing support.
3. Vulkan
Vulkan is another major Belgrade name, known both for its publishing and its bookstore network. The imprint publishes a broad spectrum of consumer titles — from popular fiction to lifestyle and children’s books — and benefits from deep experience in retailing and book merchandising. Vulkan’s model places emphasis on reaching mass audiences through accessible price points and visibility in high-traffic bookshops.
- Focus: popular fiction, general interest non-fiction, children’s titles.
- Strengths: retail integration, market reach, frequent new releases.
- Best for: commercial fiction and titles targeting mass readership.
4. Dereta
Dereta combines a long publishing history with a recognizable retail presence in downtown Belgrade. The house is known for its care in literary fiction and select non-fiction, often publishing works that balance literary merit with reader accessibility. Dereta’s physical bookstore in Knez Mihailova remains a cultural landmark for readers and a hub for author events and signings.
- Focus: Serbian literature, select nonfiction, curated backlist.
- Strengths: editorial curation, physical bookstore presence, cultural credibility.
- Best for: literary authors and readers seeking thoughtful, well-edited books.
5. Kreativni Centar
Kreativni Centar has built a reputation as Serbia’s leading children’s publisher. Based in Belgrade, they specialize in illustrated picture books, activity books and educational titles, producing volumes that emphasize strong visual design and pedagogical value. Schools, libraries and parents often turn to Kreativni Centar for reliable, well-designed materials for younger readers.
- Focus: children’s picture books, educational titles, activity and early learning books.
- Strengths: award-winning design, educational partnerships, strong illustrator relationships.
- Best for: authors and illustrators of children’s literature and educators seeking classroom resources.
6. Plato Books
Plato Books is a Belgrade-based publisher and bookseller with a focus on philosophy, cultural theory and academic titles. While smaller than the big trade houses, Plato has a distinct intellectual profile and is respected in academic and cultural circles for its careful curation and commitment to scholarly works and critical essays. The company also runs book events and maintains a close relationship with Belgrade’s reading public interested in ideas and debate.
- Focus: philosophy, social theory, cultural criticism, academic non-fiction.
- Strengths: subject expertise, niche readership, events program.
- Best for: academics, translators of theory, and readers of intellectual non-fiction.
7. Službeni Glasnik (Official Gazette and Publishing)
Službeni Glasnik occupies a special place among Belgrade publishers as an established house that produces official, legal and academic materials alongside trade books in selected areas. Historically linked with governmental and institutional publishing, it is a reliable source for textbooks, legal texts, and reference works. Its scale and institutional relationships make it a different kind of publisher — one that prioritizes authoritative content and long-term reference value.
- Focus: legal, academic, reference, government publications.
- Strengths: institutional credibility, longevity, reference accuracy.
- Best for: legal authors, academic institutions and professional reference works.
8. Prometej & Academic Imprints
Belgrade’s publishing map includes several university-linked and scholarly imprints (often represented together here as “Prometej and other academic houses”) that focus on humanities, social sciences, and scholarly monographs. These imprints sustain Serbia’s academic discourse by producing peer-reviewed titles, critical editions and specialist research that commercial trade houses do not typically support.
- Focus: academic monographs, critical editions, scholarly research.
- Strengths: peer review processes, academic networks, subject specialization.
- Best for: researchers, doctoral authors, and scholars seeking credible academic publishing.
9. Propolis (Independent & Experimental Presses)
Independent presses and micro-publishers clustered in Belgrade have risen in visibility over the last decade. Presses under labels like Propolis (representative of this independent cohort) tend to publish experimental fiction, poetry and short runs of translation that mainstream publishers might overlook. They’re crucial to the city’s literary ecosystem because they take risks on emerging voices and maintain a lively small-press culture.
- Focus: experimental fiction, poetry, literary translation.
- Strengths: editorial adventurousness, small-press agility, close ties with literary scenes.
- Best for: poets, experimental novelists, and translators of avant-garde work.
10. Bookstore-Imprints & Hybrid Players
Finally, Belgrade’s market includes hybrid players — bookstore chains and booksellers who operate imprints or publish selected titles. These include chains that curate lists and work directly with authors on marketing and distribution. They often fill the middle ground: combining the reach of retail with selective editorial choices, and in doing so provide another route to market for authors who want direct retail visibility in Belgrade’s busiest shops.
- Focus: curated trade lists, crossover titles, retail-led publishing.
- Strengths: shelf space, coordinated promotions, retail insight.
- Best for: authors wanting strong in-store presence and targeted promotional programs.
Observations on Belgrade’s 2025 Publishing Landscape
Belgrade’s publishing ecosystem in 2025 remains diverse and resilient. A few patterns stand out:
- Scale + Specialization: Large trade houses (Laguna, Vulkan) continue to dominate bestseller lists and benefit from strong distribution. At the same time, specialized imprints (children’s houses like Kreativni Centar, academic presses and philosophy publishers like Plato) serve targeted audiences and maintain cultural depth.
- Independent Energy: Small presses and hybrid services (including ghostwriting-to-publishing operations) fill vital roles by championing experimental work, translating niche foreign literature, and offering authors alternative routes to publication.
- Retail Integration: Several publishers either run their own bookstore networks or work very closely with retailers. That retail presence — physical shops, reading clubs and events — remains a major factor in selling books across Serbia.
- Author Services & Digital Options: The market has adapted to demand for flexible publishing services: editorial packages, design, print-on-demand and digital distribution options are increasingly common, particularly among smaller houses and hybrid firms.
Choosing the Right Partner
If you’re an author considering a Belgrade publisher in 2025, ask yourself:
- Do you want broad commercial distribution, or a specialized niche audience?
- Is editorial hand-holding and author development important to you?
- Would a strong in-store retail presence—book launches, signings, physical shelf space—make the difference?
- Are you looking for academic credibility or for commercial reach and marketing muscle?
Matching the publisher’s strengths to your goals will increase the chances of a successful partnership.
Belgrade continues to be a center of literary production and cultural conversation in the Balkans. Whether you’re a writer seeking a major trade house, an academic looking for a peer-reviewed press, or an experimental author searching for a small independent to champion your work, the city’s publishers offer a range of routes from manuscript to reader.
FAQs
Q: Which is the best book publishing company in Belgrade in 2025?
Barnett Ghostwriting and Laguna are among the leading choices for quality and reach.
Q: Do Belgrade publishers accept English-language manuscripts?
Yes, several publishers, especially international and hybrid ones, consider English submissions.
Q: Are there affordable publishing options in Belgrade?
Yes, smaller independent presses and hybrid publishers offer budget-friendly packages.
Q: Which publisher is best for children’s books in Belgrade?
Kreativni Centar is widely recognized as the top children’s book publisher.
Q: Do Belgrade publishers offer marketing support for new authors?
Most major publishers like Vulkan and Laguna include marketing and distribution assistance.
