Why visit Bologna Children's Book Fair

18/11/2019 - Category: Visit

Bologna Children's Book Fair - Ilustrators

Bologna Children's Book Fair (BCBF) is the world’s leading event about the children's publishing industry. Sounds boring? It's not at all.

What is Bologna Children's Book Fair

BCBF is a yearly event about children’s stories, illustrations, and animation that takes place at BolognaFiere (Bologna's trading center).

Publishers, illustrators, graphic designers, literary agents, authors, translators and more meet in Bologna to show their works and find business opportunities across six halls.

Bologna Children's Book Fair - Publications

The Story of Bologna Children's Book Fair

In the first edition in 1967 there were only 44 exhibitors around the Neptune Fountain.
A few years later BCBF moved into the new pavilions of BolognaFiere.

Year after year the fair developed new themes, enlarged its area and established new prizes dedicated to emerging illustrators.

Nowadays Bologna Children’s Book Fair breaks the boundaries of the fair and invades the whole city of Bologna.

In Sala Borsa Library and in other children's libraries you can find exhibitions and events dedicated to people of all ages.

Bologna Children's Book Fair - Illustrators at work

Why Visit BCBF

You don't need to have kids to enjoy BCBF.
BCBF walks in limbo between a cultural book show and an international business forum.

If you are not in the business it's even better: you can spend hours browsing books of hidden publishers, cherishing exotic illustrations, or just wandering around the halls.

Why Not

If you're looking for activities for kids in Bologna, this book fair is not the place: entrance is not allowed for children under 18.
The ticket price is a bit high for people not in the business.