PVLF 2026

12th Shanghai Children’s Book Fair to Host 500+ Exhibitors from 35 Nations

The 12th China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair expects 500+ exhibitors and 50,000 visitors, bridging Eastern and Western publishing.
on Sep 18, 2025

The 12th China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair (CCBF, Nov. 14 to 16), under the leadership of Donna Chai, has announced today (Sep. 17) that its organizing team expects over 500 exhibitors this year from a minimum of 35 nations. That's a number expected to surpass the 497 exhibitors on its 25,000-square-meter show floors in 2024 (269,097 sq. ft.).

In addition, the program reports to the members of the different news media that over 50,000 visitors are anticipated to throng the cavernous Shanghai World Exhibition and Convention Center (SWEEECC) on Guozhan Road in the run-up to the event—a significant increase over the 41,263 visitors for last year. Among these visitors were some 17,081 publishing-industry professionals.

Though open to members of the public on an annual basis, the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair stands in the book industry as what its leadership refers to as "a bridge between Eastern and Western children's publishing, presenting Chinese original titles worldwide and introducing new emerging talent from China and Asia-Pacific."

Two Zones: 'Copyright' and 'Hybrid'

As far as its professional appeal is concerned, its regulars among attendees consist of agents, rights directors, publishers, booksellers, illustrators, digital experts and cross-media players. Translation rights trading is a big attraction for most who make the Shanghai fair an annual destination on their travel calendars.

This year, the exhibition is to be split into two primary sectors—a Copyright Zone and a Hybrid Zone.

The Copyright Zone naturally is at the hub of the rights-buying and selling activity, with meetings and networking, an industry professionals-only area.

The Hybrid Zone is thus involved with marketing, distribution, retail-channel building, promotion, and bookselling in general.

National booths are to be located at the fair this year by Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Key Chinese publishers to participate in the program are China Education Publishing, Shanghai Century Publishing, CITIC Press, 21st Century Publishing, Jieli Publishing, Phoenix Juvenile, New Buds, and Hunan Juvenile & Children's Publishing. Private publishers also include, among others, Post Wave Kids; Little Bean; Lelequ; CheerFly Culture; and Jojo Reading.

And this year, a new "Cross Media Lounge" is to feature international projects. Among them are:

BookGorae of South Korea;
Frontiers for Young Minds, of Switzerland;
Make Digital Library of Colombia; and
Weltendecker of Germany.

The "BOP Lounge" is another themed room with houses honored by awards programs, such as:

Andersen Press of the United Kingdom;
Barefoot Banana of Thailand;
Enchanted Lion Books of the United States; and
Fukuinkan Shoten of Japan.

And yet another themed collection, the "Asia-Pacific New Entry Lounge" includes:

Difference Engine of Singapore;
Jiaxuan Publishing of Malaysia;
Pepper Dog Press of Singapore;
Sekaibunkasha Group of Japan.

And another feature for 2025 is to be a "Spotlight on New Books"—a possible source for rights trading—aimed at highlighting the newest releases and to include book launches, author signings, and rights-buying sessions.

Registration and Travel Information

Industry professionals who work in children's publishing, education, entertainment, and related industries can attend the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair free of charge, including viewing the program's online matchmaking facility. Further information is here, which includes a "2025 Professional Visitor Free Registration" section.

If you are considering having Shanghai as a destination on your business trips, it should interest you that China is now granting visa-free entry for 47 nations, fair organizers say, and a 240-hour transit visa-free policy for 55 nations.

The Shanghai fair, which is accredited by the Shanghai Press and Publication Administration, is promoted by Shanghai Xinhua Distribution Group Co. Ltd., China Education Publishing and Media Group Ltd., and China Universal Press and Publication Co. Ltd. It's co-promoted by Ronbo BolognaFiere Shanghai Ltd., and backed by the BolognaFiere Group.