Every year, for four exciting days, Bologna becomes the world capital for book publishing, illustration, animation, multimedia and licensing. Three distinct yet interconnected events unfold simultaneously: the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the world’s largest and most significant fair dedicated to children’s and youth literature; BolognaBookPlus, focused on general book publishing; and the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kid, highlighting brands and content for children, teens and young adults.
Held at the BolognaFiere Exhibition Centre from March 31 to April 3, this year marked the fair’s 62nd edition. It featured an impressive 1,577 exhibitors from around 95 countries and regions. BolognaBookPlus was sold out for the first time, with publishers from 56 countries actively trading book rights. More than 600 fair events were attended by 33,318 professional visitors, which is 5% more than last year, and they were covered by journalists from over 40 countries. The fair also has a strong digital presence; in the past year, the website recorded more than 2 million views from over 180 countries.
These numbers confirm that the Bologna Children’s Book Fair is the leading international platform for children’s and young adult literature. It supports content that spans the entire book value chain and extends beyond — with a dedicated TV/Film Rights Centre and, as of this year, a newly launched Games Business Centre. With diverse programming and numerous industry participants, the fair offers valuable opportunities for professionals, including those from Slovenia. Apart from the Frankfurt Book Fair, the most Slovenian children’s and youth literature publishers present themselves at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
Read the full article on the Culture.si portal HERE.
