BolognaRagazzi Award Regulations

ART. 1 – PURPOSE OF THE AWARD

On the occasion of the 2027 Bologna Children’s Book Fair, BolognaFiere will present the “BolognaRagazzi Awards” (BRAW) in the permanent categories FICTION, NON-FICTION, COMICS, OPERA PRIMA (DEBUT WORK), TODDLERS, and the Special Category for 2026 entitled SCRIBBLES & DRAWINGS.

FICTION: dedicated to fictional works of stories or fables in the form of picturebooks or publications whose illustrations are the predominant feature. BolognaRagazzi Award is not a literary prize. Novels and short stories shall not be taken into consideration by the Jury.
NON-FICTION: this section shall include publications providing general or special information on any area of knowledge, science, history, music, current affairs, art or any other topic broadening the learning experience, including biographies.
COMICS: this section includes three subsections: EARLY READER (ages 6 to 9), MIDDLE GRADE (ages 9 to 12) and YOUNG ADULT (13 years and up) and is dedicated to comics and graphic novels.
OPERA PRIMA (DEBUT WORK): this category is reserved for works in which the illustrator is publishing for the first time, i.e., publishing their first book.
Eligible submissions include:
– works by both debut author and debut illustrator,
– or by a debut illustrator and an author who has previously published.
Works where only the author is making their publishing debut are not eligible.
The aim of the category is to acknowledge innovative projects and the research they entail.
The same work may be submitted in the OPERA PRIMA category and/or the special category, and in only one of the other permanent categories (COMICS, FICTION, NON-FICTION, TODDLERS).
TODDLERS: this BRAW category is reserved for board books published for infants and very young children (0 to 3 years). Titles first published as picturebooks and subsequently as board books shall not be accepted as candidates for this category.
SCRIBBLES & DRAWINGS: is the special category for titles ranging from picture books and comics to non-fiction books, all of which place the act of drawing at their core. Stories about children who love to draw, stories about great illustrators who loved drawing as children, and stories featuring pencils as their protagonists, as well as paintbrushes and crayons. The category also includes titles that introduce children to drawing through new and creative approaches, encouraging them to discover the pleasure of bringing together thought, observation and hand.

IMPORTANT:

- Nominations of the same work are not allowed in two different permanent categories, with the exception of OPERA PRIMA: the same work may in fact be submitted to the OPERA PRIMA category and/or to the Special Category, and to only one of the other permanent categories: COMICS, FICTION, NON FICTION, or TODDLERS.

- The BolognaRagazzi Award is not a literary prize. Novels and short stories shall not be taken into consideration by the Jury.

Juries are also entitled to assign special mentions in each award category, as well as THE NEW HORIZONS SPECIAL JURY AWARD for a work of excellence from among all those entered - for whatever BRAW category - by publishers from around the world.

The Prizes, consisting of a certificate of recognition for the selected works, will be awarded at the sole discretion of specialist international juries, made up of sector experts, who shall take into consideration the graphic art, artistic, typographical, technical and pedagogic quality of the works submitted.

ART. 2 – REQUIREMENTS

Participation in the BolognaRagazzi Awards is free of charge and reserved for Publishers regardless of whether or not they are exhibitors at Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Self-published titles or books submitted by their author(s) shall not be accepted as candidates.

Publications received in error, or not eligible for the competition will not be considered and will not be returned to the sender. Participation in the Award is subject to full acceptance of these Regulations by the submitting publisher.

In particular, each participant declares and warrants that he/she is the owner of the rights allowing submission of the works to the competition, hereby releasing BolognaFiere S.p.A. of all and any liability with respect to third-party claims.

The Awards are solely for original works: translated works will not be accepted.

ART. 3 – SUBMISSION REGULATIONS

Publishers participating in the Award may enter one or more works, provided that all entries are the original edition and have been published in the following periods:

FICTION: original editions published for the first time during the period 1 January 2025 - 31 December 2026
NON-FICTION: original editions published for the first time during the period 1 January 2025 - 31 December 2026
COMICS: original editions published for the first time during the period 1 January 2025 - 31 December 2026
OPERA PRIMA (DEBUT WORK): original editions published for the first time during the period 1 January 2026 - 31 December 2026
TODDLERS: original editions published for the first time during the period 1 January 2025 - 31 December 2026
SCRIBBLES & DRAWINGS: original editions published for the first time during the period 1 January 2022 - 31 December 2026

Nominations of the same work are not allowed in two different permanent categories, with the exception of the OPERA PRIMA category: the same work can in fact be nominated in the OPERA PRIMA category and/or in the special category and in only one of the other permanent categories (COMICS, FICTON, NON-FICTION, TODDLERS).

ART. 4 – THE SUBMISSION PROCESS

Three (3) copies of each submitted book must be sent for each category it is entered in. In addition, every copy of the book must include a printed BOOK CARD inside, and a copy of the PUBLISHER SHEET must be enclosed in the shipping box. The BRAW Shipping Label must be affixed to the outside of the box and clearly indicate the name of the participating publisher. Both the Publisher Sheet, the Book Card and the BRAW Shipping Label will be available to download from the Bologna Children’s Book Fair website on the page dedicated to the BolognaRagazzi Award.

The deadline for entering books for the Award is 20 January 2027.

All submissions must arrive at the organizing secretariat during the period from 5 October 2026 to 5 February 2027. Entries may be sent by post, express courier or hand-delivered to:

“BOLOGNARAGAZZI AWARDS”

Via Sammarina, 38
40013 Castel Maggiore
Bologna
Italy

Phone no: +39 3928498515 / +39 3318773025
E-mail: bolognaragazziaward@gmail.com

ART. 4.1 - MAILING OR SHIPPING OF ENTRIES

Books entered for the competition must be dispatched in packaging bearing the prescribed BRAW packaging label, which publishers can download from their Reserved Area on the BCBF website.

All titles must be received by the BolognaRagazzi Award Secretariat carriage paid.

For shipments from non-EU countries, books must be sent with all customs duties and import costs fully borne by the sender (DDP shipment, Delivered Duty Paid). Please note that the books received shall have no commercial value for BolognaFiere. It is therefore recommended that for customs purposes a value be indicated that is consistent with publications forwarded for the sole purpose of participation in a competition. All submitted books can be sent in a single consignment.

Shipments from outside the European Union must be accompanied by an invoice (a pro-forma invoice is also allowed) with a total greater than zero, affixed to the parcel in a place that is accessible to customs officials without having to open the parcel itself. The invoice should state the following:

BOLOGNARAGAZZI AWARDS

c/o Fiere Internazionali Di Bologna S.P.A. - Bolognafiere
Viale Della Fiera, 20
40127 Bologna (Bo)
Italy

VAT number: 00312600372
tax ID code: 00312600372

Please note: the billing address does not match the shipping address, which is specified in Art. 4 of the Regulations.

BolognaFiere declines any liability in the event of non-delivery or late arrival of the titles submitted.
Books received cannot be returned to sender or to any other address.

To promote sustainability, participants are encouraged to prioritize the use of eco-friendly packaging for book shipments, opting for materials that are both recycled and recyclable and using paper packing tape as a more sustainable alternative. Participants are advised not to wrap individual books or packages of books in cellophane or plastic bags.

ART. 5 – JURY

All titles will be submitted to the final decision of International Juries, which will be made up of sector experts. The Juries reserve the right, should they deem necessary, to transfer works from one category to another and to adjudicate the Special Jury NEW HORIZONS Award from among all the entries in all the competition categories.

ART. 6 – RIGHTS OF BOLOGNAFIERE

The titles entered and received free of charge will under no circumstances be returned and may be included by BolognaFiere in permanent or itinerant promotional exhibitions in Italy or abroad, but also may be donated to libraries, schools and cultural institutions in Italy or elsewhere.

The Publisher shall remain the exclusive owner of its titles but grants BolognaFiere the non-exclusive rights:

to reproduce the titles entered and accepted on posters, flyers and other printed matter pertaining to the “Bologna Children’s Book Fair” as well as on any other digital, internet and social media channels of “Bologna Children’s Book Fair”, and of its authorized official partners, also for general promotional purposes.
to use, and also be entitled to cede this right to third parties, reproductions of the titles submitted and accepted, in any form, in the trade fair catalogue, as well as to reproduce said material in other publications pertaining to “Bologna Children’s Book Fair”, provided the author(s), illustrator(s) and the publisher(s) of the work in question are clearly stated.
BolognaFiere will also have the right to reproduce, also in part, the works submitted and accepted.
BolognaFiere accepts no liability for eventual errors and omissions. Publishers forego all claims for compensation regarding the reproduction and use by BolognaFiere, which reserves the right to choose works in order to promote the exhibition “Bologna Children’s Book Fair” and the BolognaRagazzi Awards, the subject matter of these Regulations.

ART. 7 – THE AWARD

The Award shall be assigned to the Publisher of the work declared the winner of its category. For the purposes of this competition, co-editions shall be considered only if those publications are expressly indicated as such on the cover and/or title page of the work. Bologna Children’s Book Fair shall send those Publishers winning awards or special mentions the digital kit confirming this acknowledgement. Publishers may reproduce and use this kit to promote the award/mention-winning book and may share it with publishers that acquire the publishing rights of said books in other countries.

ART. 8 – CANCELLATION OF OR CHANGES TO THE INITIATIVE

BolognaFiere may, at its sole discretion, decide to cancel the Award or change the dates without any compensation whatsoever being due to the participants.

ART. 9 – NATURE OF THE INITIATIVE

The initiative, the terms and conditions of which are set out in these Regulations, qualifies for the exemption referred to in Art. 6 of Presidential Decree (DPR) no. 430 of 26 October 2001.

ART. 10 – ITALIAN JURISDICTION AND APPLICABLE LAW

Relations between the participants in this initiative and BolognaFiere shall be governed by Italian law. Any disputes arising shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Italian judicial authorities and shall be the exclusive competence of the Bologna court of law.

ART. 11 – FINAL CLAUSE

Participation in the initiative and use of the awards are entirely free of charge and entail no obligations or commitments over and above the conditions outlined in these regulations.

BolognaRagazzi Awards 2027 Regulations

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