BolognaBookPlus 2026: A Vibrant Market Place And Think Tank
As global publishing confronts technological disruption and shifting markets, BolognaBookPlus 2026 positions itself as both marketplace and think tank — a space where commerce, creativity and innovation meet under one roof in Bologna. Jacks Thomas, Guest Director, BolognaBookPlus, shares more.
From 13–16 April 2026, BolognaBookPlus returns for its sixth edition, consolidating its role as the general trade publishing arm of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Launched in 2021 in collaboration with the Italian Publishers Association (AIE), the initiative was designed to expand the scope of the historic fair beyond children’s books and into the wider international trade market. Six years on, it has become a key meeting point for publishers, agents, authors, designers and technology leaders navigating a rapidly evolving industry.
The highlights…
Alongside a busy exhibition floor — which includes the Italian Publishers Pavilion created with AIE — BolognaBookPlus offers a programme that mirrors the pressures and possibilities reshaping publishing today: rights and licensing expertise, audio innovation, artificial intelligence, design culture and author-focused professional development.
The programme begins even before the fair officially opens. On Sunday 12 April, the popular training event How to Sell Rights and Understand Licensing in Children’s Publishing returns, offering a practical and comprehensive introduction to rights for newcomers and a valuable refresher for authors, editors and publishing professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of international licensing.
Among the most accessible exhibition opportunities is the New Title Showcase, managed by Combined Book Exhibit. Positioned at the heart of the BBPlus area, it provides publishers and authors with a cost-effective way to present print and digital titles to an international audience, reinforcing Bologna’s reputation as a rights-driven marketplace.
Technology and new formats take centrestage during the week. The Audio Forum, scheduled for Wednesday 15 April at the BBPlus Theatre, will explore the booming audiobook and podcast sectors. Sponsored by ElevenLabs, Bookwire and Zebralution, the half-day conference brings together global experts to examine how innovation, artificial voice tools and shifting consumer habits are transforming the way stories are produced, distributed and monetised.
Artificial intelligence remains high on the agenda with the expanded AI Summit on 14 April, curated in partnership with Shimmr AI. Now in its second edition, the summit gathers speakers from across Europe, the UK, the US and India to discuss agentic systems across editorial workflows, data-driven decision-making, and the evolving implications of AI for rights, licensing and creative practice. As publishing grapples with automation and intelligent tools, the event positions BolognaBookPlus as a forum for forward-looking, international dialogue.
Creative leadership is also central to the 2026 edition. The Author Ambassador is Polish writer Rafa? Kosik, while the Illustration Ambassador is Norwegian artist Mari Kanstad Johnsen, representing the Guest of Honour country, Norway. Johnsen will be closely involved in seminars and workshops throughout the fair, particularly within one of this year’s major new initiatives: The Designer Studio.
The Designer Studio…
Developed by BolognaBookPlus and curated by Mimaster Illustrazione, The Designer Studio is dedicated to art direction, editorial design and non-children’s illustration. Its debut edition focuses on the book cover as both a cultural object and a marketing tool, offering masterclasses, workshops and portfolio reviews led by leading international figures. Among the invited guests are illustrators Pablo Amargo, Jon Gray and Lorenzo Mattotti, alongside art directors including DJ Stout of Pentagram.
The showcase…
Exhibitions further enrich the programme. The long-running Jackets Off! showcase this year pays tribute to Agatha Christie, marking fifty years since her death, with a special focus on illustrator Ferenc Pintér. Titled 50 PINTÉR X 50 CHRISTIE, the exhibition is realised by Fondazione Arnoldo e Alberto Mondadori and traces more than three decades of Pintér’s iconic cover work for Mondadori, accompanied by archival documents and correspondence that illuminate the editorial history behind the imagery.
The awards…
New awards and professional spaces round out the edition. The Indie Authors Book Jacket Award returns, celebrating innovative cover design, while the Italian Bestseller Awards debut in partnership with NielsenIQBookData. Meanwhile, WritersLab launches as a dedicated area for authors from both children’s and general publishing, offering networking and professional development opportunities in recognition of writing as a profession in its own right.