Digital ticketing, dedicated Pickup facilities and a free Borella–BMICH shuttle bring greater convenience to the Colombo International Book Fair

From buying an entry ticket to finding a ride home with bags full of books, PickMe is bringing together digital ticketing, transport and on-site assistance to make visits to the Colombo International Book Fair 2026 more convenient.

Visitors can purchase their Book Fair tickets through PickMe Explore and present the QR code at designated entry counters at the BMICH. Through PickMe’s unified digital platform (PickMe Explore, Flash, and Rentals), visitors unlock an end-to-end event experience, connecting e-ticketing, dynamic transit routing, and vendor logistics in a single app interface

A key addition this year is a dedicated vehicle waiting area at Gate 3, at the BMICH supported by on-site assistance to guide visitors to the pickup point and help them arrange rides. The facility addresses one of the most familiar challenges at the popular annual event: finding a vehicle and meeting the driver amid crowded exits and busy surrounding roads. The Fair, which runs from 25 September to 4 October at the BMICH, brings together readers, students, families, publishers and booksellers from across the country.

PickMe CEO Jiffry Zulfer said the company’s focus was on making the different parts of a Book Fair visit work together more smoothly. “For visitors, the experience begins before they reach the BMICH and continues until they get home. Being able to buy an entry ticket through PickMe, use a QR code to enter the Fair and arrange transport through the same app brings greater convenience to that entire journey. This year, we are strengthening that experience with a dedicated pickup arrangement at Gate 3, making it easier for visitors and drivers to find each other when it is time to leave,” he said.

Available for the second consecutive year through PickMe Explore, digital tickets allow visitors to purchase admission in advance and keep their QR code ready for scanning at the venue. This removes the need to queue up to buy tickets on arrival and lets visitors organise both admission and travel through a familiar platform.

For the journey home on PickMe, the dedicated waiting area at Gate 3 will accommodate up to 10 vehicles at a time, with vehicles rotating as drivers collect passengers and depart. The arrangement gives drivers a designated place to wait within the premises and is intended to encourage more drivers to serve the Fair.

PickMe will place wayfinders and assistants at key points inside the venue to assist the visitors with the pickup arrangements and direct them towards Gate 3. App notifications and social media updates will provide further guidance, helping visitors plan their departure while still inside the exhibition.

The initiative follows PickMe’s experience at previous Fairs, where congestion, multiple exits and one-way traffic on surrounding roads made pickups difficult. While vehicle availability will depend on demand, the dedicated waiting area and on-site coordination are designed to make connecting passengers with the drivers straightforward and departures more convenient.

“After spending time browsing and buying books, visitors may be leaving with several bags, children or elderly family members. A clearly identified pickup point, with support on the field available to guide them, can make a meaningful difference. It also helps the drivers registered on the PickMe app collect passengers with greater ease,” Zulfer said.

To improve access to the Fair, PickMe will also operate a free shuttle bus between Borella and the BMICH in both directions throughout the 10-day event. The service will help visitors arriving by public transport complete the journey to the venue and return to Borella afterwards. Visitors travelling to the BMICH can also benefit from a 15% discount on eligible PickMe rides, subject to the offer’s terms and conditions.

A dedicated PickMe stall will provide assistance with the app, ride bookings and information about the company’s services. Those interested in earning through the platform will also be able to enquire about registering on the PickMe app and receive assistance.

Publishers, booksellers and other vendors will have access to special savings across PickMe Flash, Truck and Rentals, supporting the movement of books, displays and other materials before, during and after the event.

The partnership brings PickMe’s Colombo Connect initiative to one of the city’s most popular annual gatherings. By linking ticketing, travel, improving visitors’ experience and vendor logistics, it demonstrates how the city’s events can become more accessible and convenient for the people and businesses taking part.

“The Book Fair is an important meeting place for readers, writers, publishers and families. Through Colombo Connect and PickMe Explore, we want to help people enjoy more of what the city offers by making the practical arrangements easier. At the Book Fair, that means bringing admission, mobility and support together so visitors can spend more time discovering books,” Zulfer added.