NORLA receives 5 million NOK for the Guest of Honour initiative at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2026
The government is investing in Norwegian children’s literature and is making a major contribution to Norway’s Guest of Honour appearance in Italy this coming spring.
Norway will be Guest of Honour at the 2025 Bologna Children’s Book Fair, 13–16 April. The fair was established in 1960 and is the world’s largest and most important meeting place for the international children’s book industry.
A boost for children’s and YA literature
The Guest of Honour initiative represents a boost for children’s and young adult literature, both in Norway and internationally. With the Guest of Honour appearance, NORLA will strengthen its efforts to bring Norwegian children’s literature and illustration out into the world, while also encouraging reading engagement and highlighting the importance of reading at home.
NORLA does a great job of promoting Norwegian literature abroad. They have a unique ability to create meeting places where Norwegian authors can connect with international readers, thereby strengthening authors’ livelihoods. We have so many talented children’s authors and illustrators in this country. Now, even more people will discover them at the world’s largest children’s book fair, says Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery.
Broad and varied participation of Norwegian authors and illustrators
This significant contribution ensures broad and varied participation from Norwegian authors and illustrators, and will strengthen the Norwegian fair programme currently being developed.
It is very encouraging that the government is investing in Norwegian children’s and young adult literature. This allocation strengthens the perception of Norway as a country where literature for younger readers holds high status, and it is of great importance for Norway’s opportunity to make its mark internationally as a nation with a rich and boundary-pushing children’s literature. The funding will reinforce Norway’s presence as Guest of Honour at the world’s largest children’s book fair, and will help increase international visibility for authors, illustrators, and their books, says NORLA Director Margit Walsø.
An opportunity for Norway to showcase models for reading promotion
The fair programme will highlight literature and illustration, while also giving Norway the opportunity to present and discuss models for reading promotion with international stakeholders.
In addition to the fair programme, NORLA will carry out an extensive series of pre-events, both internationally and nationally, a public programme in the city of Bologna during the fair days in 2026, and a post-programme. NORLA has also launched a grant guarantee for the translation of Norwegian children’s and YA books from all languages throughout 2025.
NORLA is carrying out the Guest of Honour project in cooperation with the book industry, literary and cultural actors, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Norwegian Embassy in Rome, and international partners.
Read more
You will find more information about Bologna 2026 here.
