The Illustrators Exhibition

The Illustrators Exhibition is a showcase for the latest trends in illustration and talent spotting new artists held during Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

Launched in 1967, the Exhibition displays a wide selection of artists from different countries offering young emerging talents tangible professional opportunities. 

Gaining visibility:

• The work of all the artists is published in the well- known Illustrators Annual: a large catalogue for publishers and professionals from all over the world, enriched with the contributions from members of the jury. The Annual is published in Italian and English and distributed to international specialist bookshops. It is also published in Japanese by JBBY - Japanese Board on Books for Young People, in Korea by CCOC, and in China by Dandelion Picture Book House.
   
• After the Fair, the Exhibition travels for over two years during a long international tour in museums, art galleries and important libraries in Japan, China and in other different countries every year.
   
• Meet the Jury! The Jury members discuss how they went about choosing the illustrations for the Illustrators Exhibition. The session gives the shortlisted illustrators a chance to discuss with prominent experts in the industry, thanks to the portoflio review.

• Portfolio Marathon: Finalist illustrators attending the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2026 will have the opportunity to participate in the Portfolio Marathon on Thursday, April 16, 2026, and present their work to international publishers. Each participant is guaranteed at least one portfolio review: a prestigious chance to gain exposure, receive valuable feedback, and forge new collaborations.

• Bologna Portfolio Award: the award is reserved for finalist illustrators who will attend the Portfolio Marathon in person. For this edition, Bologna Children's Book Fair is offering a trip to 2025 China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair, giving the winner the opportunity to connect directly with the Chinese and Asian publishing industry and to take a leading role in the activities of The Illustrators Survival Corner program, which will be held during the fair.

Professionals opportunities for emerging artists:

• The International Award for Illustration Bologna Children's Book Fair – Fundación SM is dedicated to illustrators under 35 already selected for the Illustrators Exhibition. The winner receives a cheque of €15,000 and is offered to illustrate a children’s book to be presented to the next edition of the Fair for a solo exhibition.
   
• Furthermore, since 2017, one of the emerging illustrators selected among the finalists is chosen to create the trade show’s Visual Identity of the following year, in collaboration with Chialab Design. As of 2025, the choice will be extended among all the approximately 300 selected illustrators.

• Again for emerging talents, the Ars in Fabula School of Illustration with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair has been awarding the scholarship ARS IN FABULA – Grant Award, which is awarded annually to an artist aged under 30 at the Illustrators Exhibition.