63rd edition 13- 16 April 2026 | Bologna - Italy
63rd edition 13- 16 April 2026 | Bologna - Italy
For the eleventh edition of the Strega Prize Ragazze e Ragazzi the Best Narrative in Pictures category returns to the fair for its fifth year. The category was created to foster dialogue between the Strega Prize and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and to recognize excellence in the field of picture books. The selection committee, composed of Anna Castagnoli, Diletta Colombo, and Emilio Varrà, has selected the three finalists from the 49 titles submitted by publishers:
Beatrice Alemagna, Her Muddy Majesty of Muck (Topipittori)
Nicolas Digard, Myriam Dahman, The Owl Witch (Gallucci editore), translation by Clara Serretta, illustrations by Júlia Sardà
Ziggy Hanaor, Life (As We Know It), (Quinto Quarto), translation by Gioia Guerzoni, illustrations by Cristóbal Schmal
For the first time, the prize for the Debut Book, now in its sixth edition, will also be presented in Bologna. The selection committees for the 6+, 8+, and 11+ categories, which are composed of Alessandro Barbaglia, Simonetta Bitasi, Lorenzo Cantatore, Tania Coleti, Mariella Greco, Vittorio Macioce, Marcella Terrusi, and Maddalena Vaglio Tanet, have shortlisted the following three titles:
Leonardo Ligustri, Il grande viaggio di Larry [Larry’s Great Voyage], (Giunti Editore) – 6+ category
Helena Hedlund, The Best Thing About Kerstin (La Nuova Frontiera Junior), translation by Samanta K. Milton Knowles, illustrations by Katarina Strömgård – 8+ category
Antonio Carmona, Non si dice sayonara [We Don’t Say Sayonara], (Emons Edizioni), translation by Mirta Cimmino – 11+ category
The winning books in the two categories will be announced during the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2026 (April 15, 2:40pm–3:30pm, The Illustrators Café). The authors will receive a cash prize and an equivalent amount will also be given to the illustrator, for the Best Narrative in Pictures category, if different from the author, and to the translator for the Debut Book category in the case of translated works. The prizes are offered by BolognaFiere and Strega Alberti Benevento.
During the event in Bologna, the initial selections for the 6+, 8+, and 11+ categories will also be announced. The complete list of nominated titles is available on the premiostrega.it website.
