Organizers of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) have opened applications for several of the fair’s flagship programs. Preparations for the 64th edition, to be held in Bologna from 5 to 8 April 2027, are well underway, the organizers announced in a newsletter.
Illustrators exhibition
After celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026, the Illustrators Exhibition is entering a new chapter. Applications for the 2027 edition are open to illustrators worldwide until 26 October, one week from today. The exhibition is described as the world’s leading event for children’s illustration.
BolognaRagazzi Awards
Submissions are open for the BolognaRagazzi Awards in Fiction, Non-Fiction, Opera Prima, Comics and Toddler. A special 2027 category, Scribbles and Drawings, has been added.
The BolognaRagazzi CrossMedia Awards return in an expanded format, with three categories: Book-to-Media, Transmedia Evolution and Digital Reading Experiences. The organizers say the changes leave more room for stories that go beyond the printed page.
Entry to all the awards is free, and entrants do not need to exhibit at BCBF. Publishers, authors, producers, developers and IP owners from around the world are invited to submit projects.
Bologna grand tour
Earlier this month the Bologna Grand Tour visited two cities in quick succession. From 6 to 8 October it was in London for Brand Licensing Europe. The stop celebrated the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids, which marks its 20th anniversary in 2027, and introduced the new Transmedia Hall. The tour then moved to the Frankfurter Buchmesse, where it was present from 7 to 11 October.
Exhibitors urged to plan early
Organizers are encouraging companies that want a presence at BCBF 2027 to begin planning now, with Early Bird rates currently available.
Next stop: Shanghai
The Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair, a sister fair of BCBF, returns from 13 to 15 November. Visitor registration is open, and previews of the 13th edition are online on the CCBF website. The fair is a meeting point for the international children’s publishing community, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific market. Organisers say the “Bologna touch” is increasingly part of the event.
