The "Bologna Portfolio Award" aims to recognize the illustrator's portfolio as a fundamental tool for professional development, emphasizing its primary role as a means to access new job opportunities and as a communication tool between the illustrator and key players in the publishing industry.
The purpose of the initiative is to highlight those characteristics of the portfolio, such as clarity of presentation and consistency of language, that make it a professional facilitator between the world of creativity and content production (publishers, art directors, agents, etc.).
The award is organised by Bologna Children's Book Fair and curated by Mimaster Illustrazione.
Renewed for the second year, the "Bologna Portfolio Award" is back at Bologna Children's Book Fair 2026.
The "Bologna Portfolio Award - BCBF26" is exclusively reserved for the finalist illustrators of the 2026 Illustrators Exhibition who will participate in the Portfolio Marathon, which will be held in person on April 16th at The Illustrators Survival Corner, Hall 30 - Bologna Children's Book Fair and who will have signed the award regulations.
For the illustrator with the best portfolio, BCBF offers a trip to Shanghai to participate in the upcoming China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair (November 2026).
During the Portfolio Marathon, the portfolios of those who have signed the Bologna Portfolio Award-BCBF26 regulations will be evaluated by the reviewers of each slot.
The best 2 scoring placements will pass to the final selection, which will be held by an international jury.
For more information, consult the regulations (LINK).
ATTENTION:
Book projects or books that have already been published will not be considered for the Bologna Portfolio Award - BCBF26 competition.
63rd edition 13- 16 April 2026 | Bologna - Italy
