International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY): Hans Christian Andersen Award and International Children’s Book Day 2026

International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY): Hans Christian Andersen Award and International Children's Book Day 2026

• IPA Editor
• February 24, 2026

The Hans Christian Andersen Award

The Hans Christian Andersen Award, established in 1956, is the world's most prestigious international children's book award. The International Board on Books for Young People comprises 84 sections and works to bring children and books together.

The shortlist for the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award features:

• Writing: Ahmad Akbarpourfrom Iran, María José Ferrada from Chile, Timothée de Fombellefrom France, Lee Geum-yifrom the Republic of Korea, Pam Muñoz Ryanfrom the United States, and Michael Rosen from the United Kingdom.
• Illustration: Beatrice Alemagnafrom Italy, Linda Bondestamfrom Finland, Cai Gaofrom China, Gundega Muzikante from Latvia, Walid Taher from Egypt, and María Wernicke from Argentina.

The two winners will be announced at the Annual IBBY Press Conference on Monday, 13 April 2026, at the Bologna International Children's Book Fair. The medals and diplomas will be presented to the winners at the 40th IBBY World Congress in Ottawa, Canada (6 to 9 August 2026).

International Children's Book Day 2026

Among IBBY's efforts to promote access to books to young people around the world is the International Children's Book Day (ICBD), which has been celebrated across the world on 2 April, the birthday of the Danish fairy-tale author, Hans Christian Andersen.

This year, the International Children's Book Day (ICBD) is sponsored by IBBY Cyprus, around the theme "Plant stories and the world will bloom". Through this motto, IBBY Cyprus recognizes the inherent value of stories, books, and reading, and their potential to improve the world. It also emphasizes the need for a shift to more environmentally friendly life choices.

Each year, a message and a poster are selected to be distributed around the world, promoting the dissemination of literature for children and young people. This year, both the message and poster were chosen via a nationwide competition featuring distinguished Cypriot authors and illustrators. To ensure fairness, all entries were submitted anonymously to about 20 schools across the country, with their authors' identities disclosed only after the final votes were counted. Elena Perikleousis the author of the poem embodying 2026 ICBD. The poster was created by Sandra Elephteriou.

IBBY Cyprus has also designed a series of activities for children and young readers of all ages. Access here.

Poster artist: Sandra Eleftheriou

Poem author: Elena Perikleous

International Children's Book Day 2026