Bologna award winners

Michael Rosen of the United Kingdom and Cai Gao of China won the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Awards at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair on April 13. (ibby.org) The International Board on Books for Young People gave Rosen the writing award and Gao the illustration award during a press conference on the opening day of the 62nd Bologna Children’s Book Fair. (publishersweekly.com) The prize is awarded every two years to a living author and a living illustrator for a body of work, not for a single book. The International Board on Books for Young People calls it the highest international distinction in children’s literature. (ibby.org) This year’s field started with 78 candidates from 44 countries, and the final shortlist named six authors and six illustrators in January. Jury president Shereen Kreidieh announced the winners in Bologna. (ibby.org) For Rosen, the award caps a career that stretches across poetry, picture books, novels, performance, and broadcasting. Publishers Weekly said the jury praised his “ability to address serious issues through an accessible and often humorous voice.” (publishersweekly.com) For Gao, the win is a first for a Chinese illustrator in the history of the award. Chinese state media noted that Chinese author Cao Wenxuan won the writing prize in 2016, but no illustrator from China had won until now. (english.news.cn) The Bologna announcement also put the award in front of the global children’s publishing trade, because the fair is one of the industry’s main rights and licensing markets. The fair’s 2026 edition was the 62nd annual event. (publishersweekly.com) The award itself dates to 1956, and the illustration category was added in 1966. In Bologna this week, that history ended with two new names: Michael Rosen for writing and Cai Gao for illustration. (ibby.org)