Children’s prizes named

Michael Rosen and Cai Gao won the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Awards at the opening of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair on April 13. (ibby.org) Rosen, from the United Kingdom, took the writing prize, and Cai, from China, won for illustration. The International Board on Books for Young People announced both winners in Bologna. (publishersweekly.com) The award is given every two years to a living author and a living illustrator whose complete body of work has made a lasting contribution to children’s literature. The International Board on Books for Young People describes it as the highest international distinction in the field. (ibby.org) This year’s field started with 78 candidates from 44 countries, and the shortlist was cut to six authors and six illustrators in January 2026. Rosen was shortlisted alongside Ahmad Akbarpour, Timothée de Fombelle, María José Ferrada, Lee Geum-yi and Pam Muñoz Ryan. (ibby.org) Cai’s shortlist included Beatrice Alemagna, Linda Bondestam, Gundega Muzikante, Walid Taher and María Wernicke. Chinese state media said Cai is the first Chinese illustrator to win the award. (ibby.org) (chinadaily.com.cn) The prize has a long history in children’s publishing: the writing award was first given in 1956, and the illustration award was added in 1966. Winners are selected by an international jury organized by the International Board on Books for Young People, known as IBBY. (ibby.org) The Bologna announcement is not the final ceremony. IBBY’s United Kingdom section said the medals will be presented at the 40th IBBY World Congress in Ottawa, Canada, from August 6 to 9, 2026. (ibby.org.uk) For children’s publishing, the Bologna fair is one of the year’s main global meeting points for rights deals, translation sales and industry awards. This year, it also became the stage for honoring Rosen’s lifetime writing career and Cai’s lifetime illustration work. (publishersweekly.com)