The 63rd Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) concluded on April 16, 2026, having opened
its doors on April 13 at BolognaFiere. The event was held in conjunction with
BolognaBookPlus (BBPlus), organised in partnership with the Italian Publishers Association,
and the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids (BLTF/Kids), with Norway serving as the Guest
of Honour Country.
The fair brought together 1,540 exhibitors representing more than 90 countries and regions,
with first-time participants from Barbados, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nepal, Rwanda, Senegal,
Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Zambia.
A total of 32,652 trade visitors attended over the four-day event, reflecting a modest dip of
2% compared to 2025, a decline attributed in part to a challenging global environment and
travel disruptions. The fair continued to extend its reach across the entire book supply chain
and beyond, cementing its role as a cross-media platform, encompassing talent discovery,
emerging publishing markets, gaming, audiovisual content, comics, and art. Notably, the
Comics Corner saw a 60% surge in participation from publishers worldwide, both specialist
and mainstream.
India maintained a strong presence at the fair, underscoring the growing importance of
Indian publishing and print on the global stage. Among those present were several Indian
printers, including Thomson Press India and Nutech from the Delhi NCR, Quarterfold
Printabilities of Mumbai, and CDC Printers of Kolkata, in addition to the Chennai
International Book Fair and various publishers whose primary focus is publishing and book
exports.
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair holds considerable significance for Indian publishers and
book print exporters, who use the platform to showcase their work and connect with
international clients.
The BolognaBookPlus zone recorded a 15% rise in exhibitor numbers over the previous
year. Two new additions enriched the BBPlus experience: the Designer Studio, a dedicated
space for illustrators, and the Writers Lab, tailored for authors working across children’s and
general publishing.
The 64th Bologna Children’s Book Fair, together with BolognaBookPlus and the Bologna
Licensing Trade Fair/Kids, is scheduled to take place at BolognaFiere from April 5 to 8,
2027, with Poland as Guest of Honour Country.
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