After two years of planning, the first ever Kuala Lumpur Art Book Fair was held at The Godown on 3–5 December 2021. KLABF 2021 served as a catalyst event that showcases and celebrates the printed medium community, while also bringing together the local creative arts scene at large. Open to the public, the fair also featured a roster of exciting programmes including talks and workshops.

As part of social distancing protocols, KLABF 2021 had several entry time slots for easier crowd control. The fair held a special international exhibitors showcase on the Mezzanine floor, as a way to involve and showcase creative publications from the international community.