BolognaBookPlus 2026:

The BolognaBookPlus next stop ‘on the road’ is the Chennai International Book Fair in January while other colleagues attend New Delhi World Book Fair marking Bologna’s long-term commitment to engaging with India’s important and ever evolving publishing ecosystem. Chennai will provide BolognaBookPlus a vital touchpoint for dialogue around rights selling, co-editions and licensing, while spotlighting the opportunities for Indian publishers on the global stage.

Nielsen Bestseller Awards

January also sees BolognaBookPlus partnering once again on the Nielsen Bestseller Awards, to be held on 19 January 2026 at the Ham Yard Hotel, London. These prestigious awards continue to recognise outstanding commercial success in key publishing markets, as they are based on sales data alone, and reinforce the fair’s role as a connector between data, discovery and the promotion of home-grown books to the international rights buying community. There is also an exciting expansion of the awards to be announced in the Spring.

Highlights at BolognaBookPlus

The importance of the visual – pictorial and design – in the general publishing market remains central to BolognaBookPlus. The established Talking Pictures programme returns with a new partner, Grafill, a Norwegian organisation supporting professionals in design, illustration and visual communication. Grafill joins long-standing collaborators Hamelin and acclaimed illustrator Steven Guarnaccia, promising rich discussions at the intersection of illustration, design and the written word.

With Norway as Guest of Honour and Illustration Ambassador 2026 Mari Konstad Johnsen, an award-winning illustrator based in Oslo, BolognaBookPlus 2026 promises enticing insight, global exchange and unparalleled opportunities—making it an essential destination for Indian publishers looking outward, and inward, at the future of the book. For all those looking to learn more about illustration and design from inspiring, senior figures in the publishing industry, look no further than the programme running in the brand new BolognaBookPlus Design Studio which will be running Masterclasses, workshops and seminars to connect all those passionate about illustration and design in general publishing.

Audio continues to be one of the most dynamic growth areas in publishing, and the Audio Forum, in partnership with Beat Technology, will tackle some of the sector’s most pressing questions. The 2026 focus includes technology and innovation in audio, audio as a route for reluctant readers, and the ongoing tension between creativity and affordability—topics highly relevant for both mature and emerging markets.

Artificial intelligence also takes centre stage with the return of the AI Summit, in partnership with Shimmr AI. Under the theme “From Coexistence to Collaboration: Publishing’s Next Step in the Age of AI”, the programme moves beyond basic adoption to explore orchestration—how publishers can harness both human and artificial intelligence as a creative medium.

For those focused on rights, “How to Sell Rights and Understand Licensing in Children’s Publishing”remains the definitive professional training. Taking place on Sunday, 12 April 2026, ahead of the Fair, the course is designed for newcomers and early-career rights professionals and will introduce a new module addressing AI and rights. Tickets are available now via the website.

The seminar programme is set to be the strongest yet, covering design and illustration, the Italian market, AI, literature from Eastern European markets; the artist as entrepreneur, literary translation and more. Alongside the main BolognaBookPlus stage, sessions will run at the new Designer Studio @ BolognaBookPlus and the AIE stagein the dedicated Italian pavilion.

With so much on offer in Bologna in Spring for exhibitors and visitors alike, it’s an important date in global publishing’s calendar; do join us – you will be sure of a warm welcome!