The 2026 Illustrators Exhibition

With the announcement of the winners of the Illustrators Exhibition and the unveiling of the cover of the 2026 Annual, the countdown to the next Bologna Children’s Book Fair officially begins.

The event will take place in Bologna from 13 to 16 April 2026, along with BolognaBookPlus and the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids.

Sales are also now open for How To Sell Rights, the BBPlus programme session that explores the principles of copyright and the key steps involved in selling rights.

2026 Illustrators Exhibition

A few weeks ago, the international jury responsible for selecting the winners of the new Illustrators Exhibition gathered in Bologna. This year, the Exhibition celebrates its 60th anniversary.

For this edition, 4,374 submissions were received from 89 countries and territories, leading to 75 winning artists being selected.

Here we offer you a small preview, while we wait to discover the full exhibition in person at BCBF.