Bologna Portfolio Award

Following its debut at the Guadalajara fair, the new "Bologna Portfolio Award" makes its first Italian stop at Bologna Children's Book Fair 2025.

The "Bologna Portfolio Award - BCBF25", on this occasion, is exclusively reserved for the finalist illustrators of the 2025 Illustrators Exhibition who will participate in the Portfolio Marathon, which will be held in person on April 3rd at “The Illustrators Survival Corner” hall 30 - Bologna Children's Book Fair and who will have signed the award regulations.

For the illustrator with the best portfolio, BCBF offers a trip to Shanghai to participate in the upcoming China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair (November 2025).

Here you can find important information on how to participate:

• March 7th: Publication of the list of Portfolio Marathon BCBF 2025 reviewers in the reserved area. Consult the list and study the publishers in preparation for your booking.
• March 11th, 1:30 PM (Central Europe time zone): Opening of registrations for the Portfolio Marathon and Bologna Portfolio Award - BCBF25 in the reserved area.
• March 16th, 11:59 PM (Central Europe time zone): Closing of registrations for the Portfolio Marathon and Bologna Portfolio Award - BCBF25.
• April 3rd: Portfolio Marathon held in person at “The Illustrators Survival Corner” hall 30, exclusively reserved for the finalists of the 2025 Illustrators Exhibition who have booked their spot
• Only by signing the Bologna Portfolio Award - BCBF25 regulations when booking your spot in the Portfolio Marathon will you be able to participate in the competition.

During the Portfolio Marathon, the portfolios of those who have signed the Bologna Portfolio Award-BCBF25 regulations will be evaluated by the reviewers of each slot.

The best 2 scoring placements will pass to the final selection, which will be held by an international jury. For more information, please refer to the regulations. Which can be signed starting from March 11th, 1:30 PM (CET) exclusively in the reserved area of the 2025 Illustrators Exhibition finalists at the time of booking for the 2025 Portfolio Marathon on April 3rd at The Illustrators Survival Corner, hall 30, BCBF.

The Bologna Portfolio Award - BCBF25 aims to recognize the illustrator's portfolio as a fundamental tool for the development of their profession, also emphasizing its main role as a means of accessing new job opportunities and as a communication tool between the illustrator and the publishing market.