When Norway was Guest of Honour at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in April 2026, Norwegian children’s and YA literature was given a unique opportunity to shine before an international audience. The result was a great success.
The programme offers a rich range of events for both industry professionals and the public, taking place at the fair as well as at several venues across the city of Bologna.
At Salaborsa, Bologna’s beautiful main library, NORLA yesterday had the great pleasure of hosting an event for translators of Norwegian literature into other languages.
As part of the Norwegian Guest of Honour presentation at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, we held a physical version of the normally digital “NORLA’s Translator’s Pastry Shop” – or Oversetterkonditori.
The Translators Café once again proved to be a vibrant meeting place for dialogue across languages and literary cultures. One of the highlights was NORLA’s panel discussion bringing together author Jostein Gaarder, author and illustrator Kristin Roskifte, translator and lecturer in Norwegian Andrea Romanzi and NORLA Director Margit Walsø.
NORLA is pleased to announce that the deadline for its special grant guarantee for publishers of literature for children and young adults has been extended to 1 June 2026.
What if…
Those two small words are the slogan of the Norwegian program as Guest of honour at this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
Two words that egg the imagination of all children that dare think them, dare say them out loud.
Finally the moment has arrived! The Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2026 is officially open, and we are beyond excited that Norway is this year’s Guest of Honour.
“What if?” – the starting point of every story. Norway’s Guest of Honour motto is captured in a poetic text by Stian Hole, celebrating imagination, curiosity and new perspectives.
What if we could dream each other’s dreams? What if you had a thousand elks in your garage? What if I could collect holes?
By Petra J. Helgesen
At a press conference in Milan on 3 March, NORLA Director Margit Walsø presented Norway’s Guest of Honour programme for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2026.
Highlighting the artistic quality of illustration from Norway
On the way to Norway’s Guest of Honour appearance at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2026.
Bringing new literary voices to the international stage