Bologna Children’s Fair dates

Bologna’s children’s publishing fair opens April 13 and runs through April 16, turning the city into a four-day market for books, rights, illustration, and licensing. (bolognachildrensbookfair.com) The 2026 edition is the 63rd Bologna Children’s Book Fair, held at BolognaFiere alongside BolognaBookPlus and the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids. Organizers describe the three events as a single rights-and-content marketplace spanning children’s books, general trade publishing, and brands for young audiences. (bolognafiere.it) This year’s fair lists about 1,503 exhibitors from 90 countries and regions, with Norway as guest of honor. Bologna Welcome says Norway’s program includes exhibitions, meetings, and workshops at the fairgrounds and around the city. (tg24.sky.it) (bolognawelcome.com) The fair has also grown beyond the trade halls. Coverage in Italy and the city’s tourism office say events are spread across libraries, bookstores, galleries, foundations, the Academy of Fine Arts, and the Cineteca, extending the program into Bologna itself. (tg24.sky.it) (bolognawelcome.com) One of the clearest shifts in 2026 is the expansion of BolognaBookPlus, the fair’s general publishing arm, now in its sixth edition. BolognaFiere says this year’s additions include the Designer Studio and WritersLab, alongside forums on audio, artificial intelligence, and literary translation. (bolognafiere.it) (bolognachildrensbookfair.com) The new Designer Studio is built around art direction, editorial design, and illustration for adult trade publishing. The official BolognaBookPlus page says it will host design-focused programming and exhibitions, while Publishers Weekly reports that its first edition centers on book cover design with master classes and workshops. (bolognachildrensbookfair.com) (publishersweekly.com) The children’s fair remains the anchor. The Emilia-Romagna school office says the 2026 program includes more than 500 events and 1,500 publishers from around the world, with guided visits organized for teachers and educators. (istruzioneer.gov.it) Bologna’s role in the book business is also unusually broad for a children’s fair. The official site calls it a “three-in-one” event and says the combined fair now covers copyright exchange, multimedia, licensing, illustration, and animation under one roof. (bolognachildrensbookfair.com) The schedule starts even before the main opening, with a rights training course set for Sunday, April 12. By Monday, April 13, the fair shifts into full operation, with the city and fairgrounds running in parallel until April 16. (bolognachildrensbookfair.com)