63rd edition 13- 16 April 2026 | Bologna - Italy
63rd edition 13- 16 April 2026 | Bologna - Italy
BCBF is also the stage for the PublisHer Excellence Awards, which celebrate women professionals in publishing from around the world who have made a difference in their field. Divided into three categories, these awards act as a powerful catalyst to encourage striving for excellence, inspire a greater sense of community and collaboration across the industry, and raise awareness of the many challenges that women still face in their professional journeys today.
The PublisHer Excellence Awards – the awards created in 2019 by Bodour Al Qasimi (founder and CEO of Kalimat Publishing Group, United Arab Emirates) – were developed with a threefold mission: to celebrate women’s professional achievements, promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and foster professional development. There are three categories: Lifetime Achievement (for a publishing veteran – with at least 20 years in the industry – who has made a significant and lasting impact on the sector), Emerging Leader Award (for a rising star in publishing under the age of 30 who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision and the power to drive positive change) and Innovation (for any woman who has made an innovative contribution to any aspect of the publishing industry). A jury of industry experts will select the winners, who will be announced at BCBF 2026.
