BolognaFiere announced new dates for Bologna Children’s Book Fair, followed closely by publishers, authors and illustrators alike, and the new BolognaBookPlus opening up the trade show to the whole publishing industry: June 2021.

Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the world’s premier children’s publishing b2b trade show is going to be run from 14th to 17th of June 2021 and Bologna Licensing Trade Fair will be held from 14th to 16th June 2021. The concomitant Bologna Licensing Trade Fair will be held from 14th to 16th June.

While the Bologna Children’s Book Fair has been held in April every year for the last 57 years, due to the “Pandemic”, unfortunately it could not be ran in 2020. Many people, including us, who were waiting for the event with at most excitement, had to cancel their 2020 travel plans.

So how will this historical event affect the future of the children’s book fair? How will Bologna Fair exist in 2021 and beyond? We will continue to cover the 2021 Children’s Book Fair for you and continue to give you the latest news.

Commenting on the postponement, BCBF Exhibition Manager, Elena Pasoli said: “We continue to work under truly exceptional circumstances, and yet again, the publishing world has proved extremely resilient. The market for children’s books has become of prime importance and so we are glad to be able to postpone the fair for what we trust will only be for the 2021 edition. After that we hope to hold the trade show as usual in April”.

As well as the later date for BCBF 2021, BolognaFiere has also announced it will extend its reach with its new programme BolognaBookPlus: a conference and exhibition area dedicated to the publishing industry in general. Its Guest Director will be Jacks Thomas. She and her team will be in charge of this important new addition to the BCBF.

In the words of Marco Momoli, Culture Business Unit Director at BolognaFiere: “Bologna Children’s Book Fair is a brand of world renown, so we’re understandably proud of everything we’ve achieved over the last fifty years. Publishing is going from strength to strength and we must do likewise, continuing to be the place the world looks to when it comes to children’s publishing. As expertise in publishing, digital developments and entertainment become increasingly interconnected, we are particularly happy to reflect this in our trade-show offering, and very glad to welcome Jacks who, as Guest Director, will be in charge of this process”.

“I feel privileged – said Jacks Thomas – to have the opportunity to work with the fantastic BCBF team and BolognaFiere on BolognaBookPlus. Children’s publishing is often a springboard for many things, triggering innumerable innovations and providing access to different kinds of audiences. It’s also great to be able to work with talented colleagues here in the United Kingdom. Bologna in June is really enjoyable and I hope that bringing the world market to this versatile place will be a great opportunity we can all look forward to after being deprived of book fairs in Europe for so long”.

While in-person publishing trade shows were off the 2020 calendar in the Western world, BolognaFiere, through Ronbo BolognaFiere Shanghai Ltd., co-organised the China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair (CCBF), together with Shanghai Xinhua Distribution Group Co., Ltd., China Education Publishing & Media Group Ltd., and China Universal Press & Publication Co., Ltd Shanghai. The event was a great success. 350 exhibitors, of which 150 international operators from 21 countries and regions took part, and some 18,963 visitors enjoyed a rich programme of more than 300 online and offline events.

So, can virtual fair organizations replace conventional fair organizations? What are the emerging markets and media? Is the traditional publishing model still valid or will hybrid cross-media models be the future of the show? On June 14, Bologna Fair will hold a conference of experts to examine these issues. This conference will be hosting professionals from all fields of the publishing industry.

Register to our Newsletter and we will share our upcoming article about how to prepare for the Bologna fair especially for illustrators, when published.

Souce:
Bologna Children’s Book Fair press release.