Illustrators Annual 2025

A key showcase for discovering trends and artists in illustration, the Bologna Children's Book Fair’s Illustrators Exhibition has accompanied the evolution of children's books for more than 50 years, becoming one of the world's most important events in the panorama of children's illustration.

The Illustrators Annual 2025 brings together the illustrations of 77 artists from 29 countries and regions of the worlds, selected for the 59th Illustrators Exhibition from over 4300 participants. A large catalog offering a view of the illustrated universe through the facets of every corner of the world, with a selection of images that follow the common thread of creativity and the search for great emotional impact, chosen by the five members of this year's jury: Walter Fochesato (Andersen's deputy editor), Chris Haughton (author and illustrator), Neal Porter (picture book editor), Felicita Sala (artist and illustrator) e Gema Sirvent (founder of Editorial Libre Albedrío).

The 2025 cover was created by illustrator Sydney Smith, winner of Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration 2024. In alternate years, the cover is done by the winners of the H. C. Andersen Award and the Grand Prix of the Bratislava Illustration Biennial, making the volume a wonderful collector's item for all fans.

In addition to the selected works, the volume presents the contributions of the five members of the jury and includes a contribution by the illustrator and lecturer at the School of Visual Arts in New York Riccardo Vecchio.