Looking forward to the next Bologna Children’s Book Fair

Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy is recognised by industry insiders as the world’s largest, most authoritative and influential children’s book fair and annual children’s book expo. It is a copyright trade book fair that attracts publishers, copyright agents, authors, children’s illustrators, booksellers, distributors, librarians and printers from more than 70 countries and regions around the world to participate in the exhibition every year.

Founded in 1964, the Bologna International Children’s Book Fair, with the Best Children’s Book Award and the International Illustration Award as two of its highlights, brings the latest developments in the children’s book publishing industry to a high level of professionalism and attracts publishers from all over the world to participate in the fair every year.

In 2017, at the official press conference on the show floor, the organising committee announced that China would be the Guest of Honour at the 55th Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2018. The logo of China’s Guest of Honour at the 2018 Bologna International Children’s Book Fair was released at the event.

The activities of the Guest of Honour will encompass three areas: the book fair itself, where the booth area will be increased to 600 square metres; secondly, 350 square metres will be used for the Illustration Exhibition, where illustrations created by Chinese and overseas Chinese will be solicited from all over the world; and thirdly, related cultural activities will be held. In addition, the Chinese Pavilion is expected to realise more than 700 items of copyright output.

On 8 April 2024, the 61st Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) was held at the Bologna Exhibition Centre in Bologna, Italy.