63a edizione 13 - 16 Aprile 2026 | Bologna
63a edizione 13 - 16 Aprile 2026 | Bologna
In un contesto editoriale globale in cui l’audio continua a essere uno dei formati in più rapida crescita, il programma dell’Audio Forum di quest’anno esaminerà come tecnologia, creatività e realtà commerciali stiano ridefinendo il modo in cui le storie vengono prodotte, distribuite e fruite. L’Audio Forum 2026 è sponsorizzato da ElevenLabs, Bookwire e Zebralution, il cui sostegno continuo evidenzia la crescente importanza dell’innovazione, dell’accessibilità e della scalabilità nell’editoria audio.
L’Audio Forum è diventato un appuntamento fisso nell’offerta di contenuti, proponendo interventi, dibattiti e spunti di riflessione su questo aspetto importante e in forte crescita dell’industria editoriale. Si svolgerà mercoledì 15 aprile 2026 al BolognaBookPlus Theatre.
Highlights del programma
In conversation with Duncan Bruce, Spotify
Una conversazione che offrirà approfondimenti sull’approccio della piattaforma alla crescita dell’audio, al coinvolgimento del pubblico e al futuro dei contenuti spoken-word.
Tech & Innovation within Audio
Dal marketing e dal coinvolgimento del pubblico ai processi e ai dispositivi senza schermo, fino ai “sonic superworlds”: questa sessione esplora la continua crescita dei ricavi dell’audio attraverso la lente dell’avanzamento tecnologico. I relatori discuteranno di come l’innovazione stia modificando le abitudini di consumo, le aspettative esperienziali e i metodi di creazione dei contenuti audio.
Reaching Reluctant Readers via Audiobooks
L’audiolibro è un ponte già pronto per raggiungere i lettori riluttanti? Nel National Year of Reading nel Regno Unito, questo panel analizza come gli editori possano utilizzare l’audio per coinvolgere tutti, dai bambini poco inclini alla lettura agli adulti con poco tempo, ampliando l’accesso ai grandi libri attraverso diversi formati.
Creativity vs Affordability
I mercati nuovi e maturi hanno orecchie diverse e bisogni diversi. Questo panel internazionale pone attori e IA in un confronto diretto, affrontando temi come l’ambizione creativa insieme alle esigenze di velocità, disponibilità e convenienza in un mercato audio globale.
Relatori confermati:
Richard has been with Dolby since 2019, where he works to support anyone and everyone involved in the creation of immersive audio experiences in Dolby Atmos across Music, Podcast and Audiobooks, and Film and TV Post-Production.
With a breadth of skills and knowledge ranging from creative sound design, editing and mixing, to studio design, installation and calibration, Richard works across the wider audio production community, advising on how to get the very best out of Dolby tools and technologies. He regularly works with artists, labels, producers and mix engineers as they get started working in Dolby Atmos, and has advised on numerous Audiobooks and Audio Drama adaptations for the likes of Audible and the BBC.
Videl Bar-Kar’s career spans the intersection of content and technology, working across both start-ups and established media companies including Bertelsmann. He has worked in publishing since 2010 first as Director of the Ways With Words literary festival, then as the Audio Publisher for Penguin Random House, where he led an award-winning team across editorial, production and marketing to create the UK’s leading audiobook publisher. As Vice President Audio for Bookwire, Videl leads the international expansion of the company’s rapidly growing audio business, from production through distribution of audiobooks and the development of flexible, end-to-end solutions for publishers across all markets.
Jessica Barnfield is Head of English Language Audio at Zebralution Digital Publishing, where she leads UK and US publisher partnerships and drives commercial growth across key English-language markets. Previously in audiobook production at Penguin Random House UK and HarperCollins, she has served as executive producer on best-selling and award-winning titles including The Trials of Life by David Attenborough, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy, and The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.
Duncan Bruce is the Director for Audiobook Partnerships and Licensing at Spotify, where he leads Spotify’s global team dedicated to cultivating and managing relationships with publishers. Based in London, Bruce’s role includes close collaboration with publishers and authors to ensure they maximize their visibility and discoverability with audiences on Spotify worldwide, and leading licensing negotiations for expansion into new markets.
Bruce has worked in the publishing industry for his entire career. Before joining Spotify in 2023, he spent a decade at Penguin Random House, where he held the position of Online and Audio Sales Director. In this role, Bruce oversaw physical, ebook, and audiobooks sales, and handled commercial negotiations with online retailers.
André Calgaro is an audio publisher and entrepreneur with two decades of experience in the book industry. He is the founder of Narratix, a pioneering Brazilian company dedicated to audiobook and narrative audio production in multiple languages and formats.
Actively involved in the development of the audiobook market in Brazil, he works with publishers and platforms on both local and international projects. He also founded NarraKids, an audio label focused on high-quality content for children and families.
André is a columnist for PublishNews, Brazil’s leading publishing industry portal, where he covers the audiobook market, international awards, and key industry trends.
Mathilde Davignon is Head of Audio at Madrigall (Gallimard, Flammarion, Minuit, P.O.L. ....). She has been working in the audiobook industry for over fifteen years, and with each passing day she becomes more and more convinced that audiobooks are a fantastic medium to make reading accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Her motto: 'Try it and you'll love it!' She is an active member of the French Association for Audiobooks Promotion.
Ben Drury is a seasoned entrepreneur who co-founded Yoto in 2015 with Filip Denker, driven by a shared concern about children's screen time. Yoto is a screen-free audio player that uses physical audio cards to empower kids to control their listening in a safe, ad-free and carefully connected environment. Praised by outlets like Fast Company and TIME, Yoto has gained worldwide popularity since its mass market launch in 2020. Ben previously founded dotmusic.com and co-founded 7digital, which went public. A father of two, Ben is passionate about promoting children's independence and loves hearing from the global Yoto community.
Adam Fritz is the CEO of Pozotron, Inc. and has been with the company since 2021. Adam has a BA and MBA, and prior to Pozotron had executive and leadership roles with multiple companies in the software and professional sport industries. He lives in Vancouver, Canada with his two sons who listen to audiobooks 24/7.
Bruno Giancarli has a PhD in Philosophy (2019). Since 2021, he has been working for the Research Office of the Italian Publishers Association (AIE). He writes for Il Giornale della Libreria, AIE’s official publication. He teaches in the publishing master’s programs at the University of Milan (where he offers a course on foreign markets) and at the University of Verona. He has bene part of the Data & Statistics Committee of the IPA – International Publishers Association. On behalf of AIE, he regularly delivers presentations on the Italian book market to international professionals at major national and international book fairs.
Barbara Knabe is the Head of Content Acquisition, EU & LATAM at Audible, a leading producer and provider of premium audio storytelling. In this role, she oversees content acquisition strategy and publisher partnerships across European marketplaces, including Germany, France, Italy and Spain, as well as Latin America. Barbara joined Audible in 2019 as Director of Business Affairs for Germany. She previously served as Executive Vice President for TV & Digital Distribution at Studiocanal, where she led distribution strategies for high-profile German films and television series, negotiating video-on-demand and television deals for German speaking European marketplaces.
Robin Lai is a New York-based audio powerhouse and SVP at John Marshall Media. With a career defined by excellence in directing and engineering, he has produced acclaimed content for HarperCollins, Seven Seas, Disney, Tonies and DC Comics. A 5x Webby winner and 4x Audie nominee, Robin is a Berklee graduate and an active leader in the Audio Engineering Society. He is a sought-after industry expert, judge, and innovator in the audiobook and podcasting space.
Ed Nawotka is the Senior International and Bookselling Editor of Publishers Weekly. A widely published essayist and critic, his work has appeared in numerous prestigious outlets, including The New York Times and National Public Radio. He co-founded the international trade publication Publishing Perspectives and served as a culture columnist for Bloomberg News. Ed has worked on diverse creative projects globally, including writing video game scripts for Ubisoft in France, developing story arcs for K-pop acts with HYBE in South Korea, and creating advertising campaigns with WPP in Indonesia. His work can be found at authory.com/EdNawotka.
Dayella Rademaker is Product Owner at Fluister, part of DPG Media. With a background in Computer Science and currently working within the Marketing department, she creates a bridge between smart marketing and product strategies.
Madeline Shue is Head of Publisher Partnerships at ElevenLabs, the world’s leading AI audio research and product company, whose technology powers millions of voices and is trusted by creators, publishers, media companies, and more than 60% of the Fortune 500. She leads the company’s end-to-end audiobook production and distribution services, powered by ElevenLabs’ natural AI voices and enabled through ElevenReader, its integrated distribution platform. Madeline works closely with publishers and authors to unlock new creative and commercial opportunities in audio—faster production, serialized formats, immersive experiences with multicast, music, and sound design, and global reach through multilingual capabilities. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University and previously was a technology investor at Bessemer Venture Partners.
Rain Siemer has been active in the book industry for over 25 years. He has served as the head of four different publishing houses and is currently the CEO and Member of the Management Board of Rahva Raamat, the largest bookseller in Estonia. Rain is also the author of several books.
Rebecca Souster has extensive experience in the publishing and audio industries, spanning both corporate and entrepreneurial environments. She has held senior leadership roles for over a decade, including Managing Director at Lume Books and Head of Global US, UK, and Emerging Markets at Zebralution, where she oversaw strategy and growth across multiple territories. She is currently Head of Audio Sales Strategy at Pan Macmillan, leading audio sales initiatives and strategy at one of the UK’s leading publishers. Rebecca is also the founder of Break the Habit Press, reflecting her commitment to championing fresh voices in publishing.
