Record-Breaking Participation at the 59th Illustrators Exhibition at Bologna Children's Book Fair 2025
The 59th edition of the Illustrators Exhibition has set a new participation record, with 4,374 illustrators submitting a total of 21,870 artworks from 89 countries and regions. Since its inception in 1967, this prestigious exhibition has been a cornerstone of the Bologna Children's Book Fair (BCBF), showcasing the finest illustration talent from around the world. For emerging artists, it serves as a launchpad, while for established illustrators, it represents a crowning achievement.
For its 59th year, the exhibition will once again take center stage at BolognaFiere during the 62nd edition of BCBF, running from March 31 to April 3, 2025.
Expanding the Fair’s Scope
Alongside BCBF, two key initiatives will further enrich the event:
BolognaBookPlus, organized in collaboration with the Italian Publishers Association (AIE), focusing on the broader publishing industry.
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids, which brings together major global players in licensing and entertainment related to children's publishing.
The Selection Process
This year’s selection was led by a distinguished jury of industry experts:
Walter Fochesato – Scholar of children's literature and illustration history, Deputy Editor of Andersen magazine (Italy)
Chris Houghton – Illustrator (Ireland)
Neal Porter – Publisher, Neal Porter Books (an imprint of Holiday House, USA)
Felicita Sala – Illustrator (Italy)
Gema Sirvent Laguna – Publisher, Libre Albedrìo (Spain)
Following an initial online selection of 324 finalists, the jury convened in Bologna in mid-January to finalize 76 sets of illustrations by 77 artists from 29 countries and regions.
Beyond the Exhibition: Global Visibility for Winners
While the exhibition is a highlight of BCBF, the winners' work will continue to receive international exposure:
Online Exhibition – From March to April 3, 2025, all selected works will be freely accessible via the BCBF Galleries portal on the official BCBF website.
Global Touring Exhibition – After the fair, the exhibition will embark on an international tour, making stops in major cultural hubs such as Japan, Korea, and China.
Illustrators Annual – The winners' works will be published in the Illustrators Annual, distributed globally in specialized bookstores. The catalog is published by Corraini in Italian and English, with additional editions released in Japan (JBBY - Japanese Board on Books for Young People), Korea (CCOC), and China (Dandelion Picture Book House). The 2025 edition will feature a cover illustrated by Sydney Smith, the 2024 H.C. Andersen Award winner.
Supporting Emerging Talent
BCBF continues to champion young illustrators with dedicated awards:
Bologna Children's Book Fair International Illustration Award – Fundación SM (for artists under 35)
ARS IN FABULA – Grant Award (for artists under 30), sponsored by the Ars in Fabula School of Illustration
Additionally, for the first time, all finalists will receive:
Priority access to portfolio reviews at the Illustrators Survival Corner during BCBF 2025.
An exclusive opportunity to be selected for the 2026 BCBF visual identity, in collaboration with the Chialab design studio.
With a growing international presence and increasing opportunities for illustrators, the Bologna Children's Book Fair remains the premier global stage for illustration talent, industry networking, and creative exchange.