Under the theme “Connecting the World through Books” (本でつながる となりの国々), the conference aims to bring together approximately 500 children’s literature professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. With 23 active IBBY sections in the region, the event promises to be a vibrant festival of exchange, fostering mutual understanding and peace through the power of storytelling.
The conference venue, the Itabashi Cultural Center, is located in a district deeply rooted in the world of books. Itabashi is globally renowned for its advanced printing and bookbinding industry, serving as a technical hub for publishing. The city also boasts exceptional cultural resources for attendees:
- The Itabashi Art Museum: Since 1981, it has hosted the traveling Bologna Illustrators Exhibition, nurturing picture book creators through workshops and solo exhibitions.
- The Itabashi Central Library: Opened in 2021, this unique facility houses a special collection of 31,000 picture books in 77 languages from 108 countries, originally donated by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
Attendees are invited to extend their stay and explore Tokyo’s rich literary landscape. The city offers access to institutions such as the International Library of Children’s Literature, the Chihiro Art Museum, various printing museums, and the world-famous vintage book district of Jimbocho. Additionally, participants can visit the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) exhibition at the Urawa Art Museum before or after the conference.
More detailed programming and speaker information will be shared at the 40th IBBY World Congress in Ottawa, Canada this August. Access the slides looking ahead to the regional conference, as presented by JBBY at the IBBY Annual Press Conference at Bologna this year.
Registration for the 2027 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference is scheduled to open in Winter 2026. Stay tuned for further updates as JBBY prepares to welcome the world to Tokyo!
