Congratulations for Lauren Saunders who was selected as one of 75 winners of the 2026 Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition!
One of the longest-standing and most successful initiatives of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Illustrators Exhibition was established in 1967 as a showcase for discovering new talent and has accompanied the evolution of the illustration world for decades.
After reviewing 317 finalist submissions, the international jury selected 75 illustration sets, created by 75 artists from 31 countries and regions around the world.
For the 2026 edition, 4,158 illustrators submitted a total of 20,790 artworks from 94 countries and regions.
The Illustrators Exhibition offers unparalleled visibility for the selected artists. At the end of the fair each year, an international tour begins, bringing the works to major cultural venues in leading capitals and cities around the world over the following two years.
CLICK HERE to see the 2026 Winning Illustrators.
Lauren says: The news came as an absolute surprise (I'm still in shock!), and I feel very overwhelmed, honoured and proud. I am so excited that my illustrations will be exhibited in Bologna! I am now planning to go to the fair in April, which will be such a dream come true for this little aspiring illustrator.
Huge Congratulations Lauren!