Eight Ukrainian illustrators shortlisted at the Bologna Book Fair

The Bologna Children’s Book Fair has announced the finalists of the 60th Bologna Illustrators Exhibition. 

A total of 20,790 works by 4,158 artists from 95 countries and regions were submitted to the 60th Illustrators Exhibition. Overall, 317 illustrators were shortlisted. Among them are eight Ukrainian artists:

• Yuliya Gwilym — Among the critters and the butterflies, on a leaf of a particular cabbage lived Luca

  

• Grasya Oliyko — Hello

  

• Polina Doroshenko — cover, no text

  

• Oleg Gryshchenko — One Day in Chornobyl

  

• Romana Romanyshyn — There Are Many Stories Around Us

  

• Anna Sarvira — I Miss the Playground in Ukraine, Even Though My Friends Are No Longer There

  

• Mariia Rizak — Picture 1

  

• Vlada Soshkina — When We Came to the Forest It Was Different This Time

  

“All finalists at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair will receive priority access and a guaranteed portfolio review slot within the Illustrators Survival Corner 2026 events, where they will receive feedback and valuable advice from renowned publishers, illustrators, authors, agents, and art directors,” the fair’s website states. It also adds that one of the finalists will be selected to create the visual identity of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2027 under the supervision of the design studio Chialab, providing an additional opportunity to present work to a global audience.

The Bologna Children’s Book Fair is a leading industry event that brings together a unique and diverse international audience and has become a global hub for premium rights exchange in publishing. It also extends to contemporary multimedia and licensing businesses in the fields of children’s stories, illustration, animation, and related industries.

The Bologna Illustrators Exhibition has been held annually since 1967. Its goal is to showcase the latest trends in illustration through new artistic voices. The exhibition is organized as part of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (Italy), the world’s leading fair for children’s books.

As previously reported, in 2025 five Ukrainian illustrators were shortlisted for the competition, with Maria Haiduk winning for her project “Killing the Gods”. In 2024, eight Ukrainian illustrators were shortlisted, and two of them — Polina Doroshenko and Oksana Domashych — won the competition.

RELATED: The Bologna Children’s Book Fair illustrators shortlist revealed

Main image and illustrations: Exhibition’s website

Copy editing: Joy Tataryn