Bologna Children's Book Fair
The world fair for children's books and illustration
About BCBF
The world capital of children's books
Established in 1964, the Bologna Children's Book Fair (BCBF) is the world's leading professional fair dedicated to children's and young adult publishing. Every year, in the pavilions of BolognaFiere, in the Municipality of Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna, publishers, literary agents, illustrators, authors, booksellers, librarians, and audiovisual content producers from all over the world gather. This is where rights for children's books are bought and sold, international agreements are made, and trends that will shape bookstore shelves in the coming months are identified.
A fair for professionals
Unlike book fairs open to the general public, BCBF is a B2B fair reserved for industry professionals: entry is permitted to those over 18 years old accredited as professionals in publishing, illustration, education, and culture. Each edition hosts around 1,500 exhibitors from more than 90 countries and regions worldwide, with a growing number of debuts from nations entering the international illustrated book market for the first time.
The Illustrators Exhibition, the heart of the fair
Among the most beloved and long-standing initiatives is the Illustrators Exhibition, a showcase that since 1965 has given visibility to the best illustrators in the world and launched many careers. Alongside it, the BolognaRagazzi Award (BRAW) recognizes the most innovative books for graphic and editorial design, while BolognaBookPlus broadens the scope to general publishing and Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids to the world of brands and licensing for children.
A Guest of Honour Country each year
Each edition focuses on a Guest of Honour Country, which presents its publishing and illustration production through dedicated exhibitions and meetings. The fair is also the hub of BOOM! Crescere nei libri (Growing through books), the city-wide festival that brings dozens of exhibitions and events to all of Bologna, transforming the Emilian capital into the world capital of imagination for young people for a few days.
Why it's worth it
For those working in publishing, illustration, or education, the Bologna Children's Book Fair is an unmissable event: a concentration of meetings, conferences, awards, and exhibitions that, for over sixty years, has made Bologna and the Emilia-Romagna region the international reference point for children's books.
BCBF — edition 2026
The 63rd edition of the Bologna Children's Book Fair confirmed Bologna's role as the world capital of children's books, with approximately 1,500 exhibitors from more than 90 countries and regions worldwide. Four days dedicated to rights trading, exhibitions, awards, and a packed schedule of professional meetings in the BolognaFiere pavilions.
Programme BCBF 2026
Guest of Honour Country: Norway — "What if?"
Norway was the Guest of Honour Country for the 63rd edition, with the program "What if?", an invitation to question reality through imagination and the perspective of childhood. The exhibition showcased the work of 49 Norwegian illustrators and a selection of 52 titles awarded in Norway's competitions for the most beautiful books and illustrated books of 2025.
Main Exhibitions
- Illustrators Exhibition — the historic showcase of BCBF celebrated its 60th anniversary.
- "Italian Excellence. Pinocchio's New Clothes" — a contemporary reinterpretation of Collodi for the bicentenary of the author's birth.
- "The Fabulous Wardrobe and the Endless Thread" — 150 illustrated books from 86 publishers worldwide, displayed at eXtraBo until April 19.
- Exhibition of Chinese illustration and numerous international retrospectives.
Anniversaries Celebrated
- 200 years since the birth of Carlo Collodi.
- 100 years since the birth of Mitsumasa Anno.
- 50 years since the death of Agatha Christie.
Guests
Among the authors and illustrators present: Emma AdBåge, Albertine, Beatrice Alemagna, Sophie Blackall, Gianrico Carofiglio, Timothée de Fombelle, Matthew Forsythe, Anna Llenas, Lorenzo Mattotti, Roger Mello, Bianca Pitzorno, Michael Rosen, Sydney Smith, Øyvind Torseter, Hervé Tullet, Jacqueline Woodson, and historian Alessandro Barbero (Thursday, April 16).
Sections and Awards
- BolognaBookPlus (6th edition) — general publishing, with the new features The Designer Studio and WritersLab.
- Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids (19th edition) — over 800 brands and the debut of Play Trade for board games.
- BolognaRagazzi Award and other recognitions dedicated to the best illustrated books.
BOOM! Growing through books
In the city, the city-wide festival BOOM! Crescere nei libri animated Bologna with 49 exhibitions and over 150 events during the fair period.
Highlights BCBF 2026
Prices BCBF 2026
Practical information — BCBF
Where
BolognaFiere, Bologna Exhibition Centre, Constitution entrance, Viale della Fiera 20, 40128 Bologna (BO).
How to get there
By train to Bologna Centrale station, then shuttle or bus to the exhibition center. By car, take the Fiera exit from the ring road (exit 7 or 8); ample parking is available near the pavilions. Bologna Marconi Airport is about 8 km away.
Access
Fair reserved for professional operators in the publishing and related sectors (publishers, literary agents, illustrators, booksellers, teachers, institutions). Children under 18 are not allowed. Accreditation and ticket purchase are done online on the official website.
Information
For details on opening hours, accreditation, and tickets, consult the official website bolognachildrensbookfair.com.
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Where does it take place — BCBF
BolognaFiere
Viale della Fiera 20, 40128 Bologna