The 2026 Bologna Prize for Best Children’s Publishers of the Year Shortlist is Out!

The 63rd Bologna Children's Book Fair (13 - 16 April 2026) released the shortlist of publishers recommended for the BOP - Bologna Prize for the Best Children's Publishers of the Year, which is awarded annually to highlight excellent publishing houses from all over the world. Now in its fourteenth edition, the award highlights the top children's publishers of the year in each of the six geographical areas: Africa, Asia, Europe, Caribbean - Central and Latin America, North America, and Oceania. See the BOP 2026 Shortlist here.

Organized by the Bologna Children's Book Fair in partnership with the Italian Publishers Association (AIE) and the International Publishers Association (IPA), the award aims both to acknowledge publishing excellence, highlighting the professional expertise of publishing houses, and to encourage mutual awareness and exchange among countries.

Now it is the turn of BCBF exhibitors to vote: starting from February 10th, in their reserved area, they will find the form to choose the #boppist 2026. They have until Monday, 16 March 2026. The announcement of the winners will be held during BCBF, 13-16 April 2026, and the award ceremony will take place on the 13th at Palazzo Re Enzo, together with the other prizes as usual.

In addition, for the final stop of the Bologna Grand Tour 2026, BCBF organizes an exhibition at the United Nations in New York. From February 20 to March 13 at the UN Headquarters, the exhibition Turning the Page on Changewill be on display, bringing together 173 international children's books dedicated to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

The titles were selected from hundreds of submissions to the BolognaRagazzi Award 2025, and the selection, supported by the Italian Trade Agency and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI), also includes a special focus on Italian books addressing the theme, showcasing the excellence of Italian publishing on the international stage. Find out the catalogue here.