The 12th edition of the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair (CCBF) will take place from November 14-16, 2025, in Shanghai at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC). As the leading event in the Asia Pacific region dedicated to children’s books and content, the 2025 CCBF is expected to host 500 exhibitors from over 35 countries and regions, with an anticipated attendance of more than 50,000 visitors across a 25,000-square-meter exhibition area.
CCBF serves as a bridge between Eastern and Western children’s publishing, promoting Chinese original titles globally and showcasing emerging talent from China and the Asia-Pacific region. The fair provides a professional platform for publishers, agents, booksellers, illustrators, digital creators, and cross-media partners to connect, collaborate, and explore new business opportunities.
CCBF 2025 is divided into two zones: the Copyright Zone and the Hybrid Zone. The Copyright Zone focuses on copyright exchange and international collaboration, open exclusively to industry professionals. The Hybrid Zone combines copyright activities with marketing, distribution, channel development, promotion, and retail. CCBF warmly welcomes global industry colleagues and all book lovers to join this vibrant celebration of children’s books!
This year, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Korea, the UAE, and the UK will all be represented with national pavilions.
One of the most anticipated spotlights will be Norway in the Limelight, a special taste of Norway’s Guest of Honour plans for Bologna 2026. CCBF delegates can look forward to events and showcases featuring Norway's illustrators and rich array of children’s books.
The Italian Pavilion organized by ICE-ITA Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with AIE-The Italian Publishers Association also makes a strong return, featuring 13 exhibitors, including several making their Shanghai debut.
Featured areas such as the BOP – Bologna Prize Lounge, the Asia Pacific New Entry Lounge, the Rights Centre, and the Belt and Road Lounge for publishers from BRI partner countries will continue to serve as key hubs for rights trading and international exchange.
A brand new Cross Media Lounge dedicated to finalists and winners of the Bologna Ragazzi Cross Media Award highlights global projects such as BookGorae (South Korea), Frontiers for Young Minds (Switzerland), MakeMake Digital Library (Colombia), and Weltentdecker (Germany). The BOP Lounge features award-winning houses including Andersen Press (UK), Barefoot Banana (Thailand), Corraini (Italy), Enchanted Lion Books (USA), Fukuinkan Shoten (Japan), and many others. The Asia Pacific New Entry Lounge hosts Difference Engine (Singapore), Jiaxuan Publishing (Malaysia), Pepper Dog Press (Singapore), and Sekaibunkasha Group (Japan).
Leading Chinese publishers—China Education Publishing, Shanghai Century Publishing, CITIC Press, 21st Century Publishing, Jieli Publishing, Phoenix Juvenile, New Buds, and Hunan Juvenile & Children’s Publishing—along with private publishers like Post Wave Kids, Little Bean, Lelequ, CheerFly Culture, and Jojo Reading, will participate in discussions and exchanges throughout the fair.
The new Spotlight on New Books will showcase 2025’s latest titles and features book launches, author signings, and rights-purchasing sessions. It provides a unique platform for visitors to acquire rights, forge partnerships, and connect directly with leading global children’s publishers.
CCBF 2025 will host 17 professional conferences and seminars fostering cross-cultural exchange across the children’s content industry. A highlight is the International Children’s Reading Promotion Forum, supported by the Shanghai Press & Publication Administration and the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), which will gather global leaders, including Gvantsa Jobava (IPA President) and Basarat Kazim (IBBY President) to discuss best practices, digital innovation, and building safe, multicultural reading environments. Other sessions will feature the Award Winners’ Series, insights into Chinese and global book retail markets, and discussions on IP operations, AI in education, Asian children’s content, and innovative storytelling.
A stellar lineup of distinguished guests—including Sydney Smith, winner of the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration; Shinsuke Yoshitake, recipient of the Bologna Ragazzi Special Prize; Leo Timmers, eight-time winner of the Children’s and Youth Jury Award and recipient of the Bookpeacock Award; Alessandro Sanna, winner of multiple Premio Andersen awards; Øyvind Torseter, winner of the Bologna Ragazzi Award and Norwegian Book Art Prize; and Matthew Forsythe, Oscar-nominated artist—will be participating in the Fair.
The Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair Publishers’ Fellowship Programme (SHVIP) makes its official return in 2025. This year, the fellowship will welcome six distinguished publishing professionals, all joining the programme for the first time:
- Ahmad Redza Bin Ahmad Khairuddin, Chairman, Penerbit Mahir Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)
- Elodie Bourgeois, Publisher, Editorial Juventud (Spain)
- Kato Hiroki, Chairman of the Board, POPLAR Publishing (Japan)
- Meri Melkonyan, Rights & Foreign Rights Manager, Ueberreuter Verlag (Germany)
- Merete Thime Pharo, Literary Agent and Information Consultant, Saga Literary Agency / Det Norske Samlaget (Norway)
- Maud Sepult, Group Rights Director, Simon & Schuster (UK)
Over the course of the programme, they will take part in a curated itinerary in Shanghai, including visits to local bookstores and local publishing houses, as well as participation in the fair itself. Through these activities, fellows will gain a comprehensive perspective on China’s children’s publishing landscape.
CCBF will spotlight comics with the special exhibition Children Plus – COMICS: Exploring the World, One Bubble at a Time. The exhibition is divided into two sections: international and domestic. The exhibition is divided into two sections: international and domestic. The international section is curated by an international team led by Grazia Gotti (Accademia Drosselmeier Coofounder, Author, Critic, Advisor), Mariaelena Schiavo (Special Projects Manager BCBF CCBF) and Marina Lepore(Secretariat and Coordination, Cooperativa Giannino Stoppani/Accademia Drosselmeier). The Chinese section is curated by Fei Jia, Senior Editor and Picture Book Researcher.
The exhibition will showcase around 200 international titles, celebrating comics as an art form and a learning tool. A dedicated panel will explore this theme in depth.
The Golden Pinwheel Illustration Exhibition highlights 69 outstanding shortlisted works from the 2025 Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition, alongside the launch of the official Yearbook, bringing the latest in cutting-edge illustration to the public.
The Illustrators Survival Corner, in partnership with Mimaster Illustrazione, will feature 11 masterclasses, 9 creative workshops, and 27 one-on-one mentorship sessions, empowering young illustrators to showcase their skills, improve their craft, and engage in valuable exchanges.
Professionals in children’s publishing, education, entertainment, and related fields can attend free of charge. Using the online matchmaking system, visitors and buyers can browse exhibitors and products, schedule pre-arranged meetings, and expand their professional networks. Visit www.ccbookfair.com/en or search “ccbookfair” for details.
International visitors should apply for a visa in advance. China offers visa-free entry for 47 countries and a 240-hour transit visa-free policy for 55 countries. For further information or consultation on relevant visa exemption policies, please visit www.visaforchina.cn
