2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award Shortlist Announced.

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) has announced the shortlist for the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Awards, which recognize outstanding international authors and illustrators in children's literature. The shortlisted authors include Ahmad Akbarpour (Iran), María José Ferrada (Chile), Timothée de Fombelle (France), Lee Geum-yi (Republic of Korea), Pam Muñoz Ryan (United States), and Michael Rosen (United Kingdom). The illustrators shortlisted are Beatrice Alemagna (Italy), Linda Bondestam (Finland), Cai Gao (China), Gundega Muzikante (Latvia), Walid Taher (Egypt), and María Wernicke (Argentina). Selected from 78 nominations across 44 countries by a 10-member jury led by Shereen Kreidieh, the winners will be announced at the Bologna Children's Book Fair on April 13, with medals presented at the 40th IBBY World Congress in Ottawa, Canada.