Already an integral part of Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids will be taking an even bigger footprint at the 2025 show, which runs from 31 March to 3 April. From new additions such as a matchmaking service and fresh areas for art and gaming, the International Kids Licensing Days and the awards also make a return. LicensingSource.net finds out more.
“We are pretty excited about what we are organising for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2025 edition,” says Cristina Angelucci from Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids when asked how the mood in the camp is with the show almost ready to open its doors.
For more than 60 years, BCBF has been the key event in the children’s publishing industry, regularly welcoming over 1,500 exhibitors and 31,000 visitors to BolognaFiere each spring. Pitched as more than a trade fair, the organisers are proud to bill BCBF as a vibrant business hub and a creative workshop space, where visitors can experience the world of children’s books, illustration and multimedia content.
The Licensing Hall is central to this and last year, Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids saw 800+ brands represented, with 45 international speakers for the seminar programme and some 245 licensing portfolio reviews.
“With a focus about our special areas, the Licensing Hall is increasing and we expect to have a bigger Licensing Business Lounge and a richer International Kids Licensing Days programme [for 2025],” says Cristina. “Moreover, we are working hard to welcome a wide range of media content producers at the TV/Film Rights Centre and we can’t wait to launch the first edition of the Games Business Centre.”
The exhibitor mix in the Licensing Hall is also becoming more international – and Cristina did confirm big names such as Paramount, NBCUniversal, Mattel and Sanrio have pledged their support. The International Kids Licensing Days, meanwhile, will cover topics such as anime trends, consumer trends, insights on gaming and media content trends, with a spotlight on YouTube.
New for 2025 will be the launch of a matchmaking service for all exhibitors, as well as a new Arts Licensing Area. “This is aiming to link the licensing and Illustration worlds together; both very rich and intense in Bologna,” explains Cristina. Strategically located between the Licensing Hall and the publishing halls, the new exhibition area will be designed to offer professional illustrators and arts licensing agencies the opportunity to showcase illustrations, designs and styles not only to the publishing world, but also to companies producing consumer goods and media content.
Another new introduction will be the Games Business Centre, a tie up between BCBF and Frankfurter Buchmesse, and completing the ‘book to screen’ offering at the show. It will be located in the heart of BCBF, with the aim of matching gaming companies with publishers, TV/film producers and licensing professionals.
The growing importance of gaming is also reflected in the Bologna Licensing Awards (the 2024 judging panel is pictured above with Cristina (centre)) – returning for their eighth edition – with a new Licensed Gaming category.
It’s certainly shaping up to be a busy four days in Bologna, and Cristina recommends all visitors check out the programme and start their planning early. “Bologna is a hub of various worlds mixed together and any professional in charge of children’s content, entertainment and licensing can find the right spot/event to attend and follow,” she says. “Our main goal is to consolidate further the licensing world in the heart of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. BLTF is already an unmissable part of the show and we aim to welcome more and more licensing and entertainment professionals from all over the world joining our event.”
This feature originally appeared in the spring 2025 edition of Licensing Source Book. To read the full publication, click on this link.
