SCBWI at Bologna Children’s Book Fair

SCBWI will return to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2026! We connect with a global audience of publishers, agents, and illustrators at the fair, and we hope to meet you there. The booth highlights our illustrator awards, features industry sponsors, and is a wonderful place to meet the SCBWI global community. There are so many exhibitions, presenters, books, and people to see.  We hope you will join us! 

Join us in Booth B61, Hall 30

Day 1, Monday April 13

11am – 12pm Member Appreciation in Booth B61, Hall 30

Come meet fellow SCBWI members and HQ.

11am – 12pm Imagining Beyond Words: Translation, Illustration, and the Expanding Mind on the Translation Stage

Moderated by TeMika Grooms, with panelists Dasha Tolstikova, illustrator; and Lawrence Schimel, translator. Organized by SCBWI.

1pm – 2pm: FREE Bag Giveaway in Booth B61, Hall 30

2:30pm – 3:30pm at Illustrator Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews with Sarah Baker, illustrator & Executive Director SCBWI.

3pm – 4pm in Booth B61, Hall 30

Portfolio Reviews, Book Pitches with Industry professionals including art agents, art directors and published illustrators.

Day 2, Tuesday April 14

10:30am – 11:15am Creating Memorable Books Through Innovative Design at Illustrator Survivor Corner

Panelists: Netta Rabin, Publisher, Children’s Books, Phaidon; Meagan Bennett, Executive Art Director, Children’s Books, Phaidon; Maya Gartner, Associate Publisher, Children's Books, Phaidon; Steven Guarnaccia, illustrator & designer. Moderated by Sarah Baker, Executive Director, SCBWI.

11:30am – 12:30pm Portfolio Reviews, Book Pitches in Booth B61, Hall 30

With Industry professionals including art agents, art directors and published illustrators.

1pm – 2pm Spanish Language Member Meet Up in Booth B61, Hall 30

Come meet fellow Spanish Language Members and HQ.

3pm – 3:30pm FREE Button Giveaway in Booth B61, Hall 30

4pm – 4:45pm at Illustrator Survival Corner

SCBWI PRESENTS: Top Illustrators. Real Talk.

Panelists: Catia Chen, K-Fai Steele, Suzanne Kaufman, Selina Alko, and Dasha Tolstikova, moderated by SCBWI Executive Director Sarah Baker.

5:00pm – 6:00pm Meet the panel in Booth B61, Hall 30

Stop by the booth to meet Catia Chen, K-Fai Steele, Suzanne Kaufman, Selina Alko, Dasha Tolstikova and Sarah Baker.

Day 3, Wednesday April 15 

11am – 12pm in Booth B61, Hall 30

With Industry professionals including art agents, art directors and published illustrators.

2:30pm – 3:30pm Dueling Illustrators in Booth B61, Hall 30

Watch artists from around the world throw down live, turning the same story into wildly different images.

Learn more about the Bologna Children’s Book Fair at https://www.bolognachildrensbookfair.com

Masoud Gharehbaghi

https://www.scbwi.org/members/masoud.gharehbaghi

Congratulations to Masoud Gharehbaghi for being the 2026 Bologna Scholarship Winner! Each year, a panel of judges reviews submissions to this grant online. One winner receives a ticket to the Bologna Book Fair, travel fare, and a stipend for accommodations. The winner will have an opportunity to show their portfolios to publishing professionals, display their portfolio at our industry party in Bologna, and attend the prestigious fair.

Congratulations to our 2026 winner, Masoud Gharehbaghi