Stepping Into a World of Wonder, illustrated by Carmelita Angelica Josopandojo and Tanya (left), and Misi Mencari Mali (Finding Missing Mali), illustrated by Cathleen Briggita Kandou and Cindy Callista Lim (right)
The Singapore Children's Book Festival (SCBF) returns from 19 to 21 June 2026 with a vibrant line-up of book launches, workshops, storytelling sessions and activities that celebrate children's literature, illustration and creative learning.
Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Education and Digital Development & Information, will officiate the festival's opening ceremony as the Guest of Honour on 19 June 2026.
Co-organised by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), and the Singapore Book Publishers Association (SBPA), the festival brings together authors, illustrators, publishers, educators, families and young readers to celebrate Singapore's children's book ecosystem.
The opening ceremony will also feature the presentation of the 2026 Student Illustrator Book Prize and the Illustrator of the Year Awards, recognising excellence among emerging and established children's book illustrators.
"The Singapore Children's Book Festival demonstrates how creative education can be connected meaningfully with industry and audiences. Through the Student Illustrator Book Prize, our students work with real publishers, respond to actual publishing briefs and experience first-hand what it takes to bring a children's book to life. At NAFA, we believe students learn best when they are given opportunities to work on real projects with industry partners, create for real audiences, and see their ideas come to life beyond the classroom. We are proud to work alongside the Singapore Book Publishers Association in supporting a festival that nurtures both creative talent and a vibrant literary culture in Singapore," said Mrs Tan-Soh Wai Lan, President of NAFA.
Mr Edmund Wee, President of the Singapore Book Publishers Association, said: “The Student Illustrator Book Prize creates valuable opportunities for emerging illustrators to engage with real publishing projects and industry expectations. By connecting students with publishers, authors and readers, the festival helps strengthen Singapore's children's publishing ecosystem while supporting the development of the next generation of creative talent.”
Book Launches by NAFA Student Illustrators
This year's festival will see the launch of two children's books developed through the Student Illustrator Book Prize, one of SCBF's signature initiatives.
Misi Mencari Mali (Finding Missing Mali), illustrated by Cathleen Briggita Kandou and Cindy Callista Lim, follows Hana, a shy girl who has recently moved from Thailand to Singapore and struggles to adapt to her new environment. When her beloved cat, Mali, goes missing, Hana is compelled to venture beyond the safety of home and connect with the people and places around her.
Stepping Into a World of Wonder, illustrated by Carmelita Angelica Josopandojo and Tanya, follows a young mouse on a journey filled with challenges, uncertainty and discovery. Through perseverance and resilience, the protagonist gradually gains confidence while searching for a better path forward.
Student Illustrator Book Prize
One of the festival's most distinctive initiatives, the Student Illustrator Book Prize invites students from NAFA's Diploma in Illustration with Animation to illustrate unpublished children's book manuscripts provided by local publishers.
The students' work is assessed by publishing and industry professionals, with winning projects receiving opportunities for further development and publication. Through the initiative, students gain practical experience in children's book illustration, visual storytelling, working with editorial briefs, industry engagement and publishing workflows.
The 2026 Student Illustrator Book Prize winners will be announced at the festival's opening ceremony on 19 June.
Festival Highlights
Families can look forward to a diverse line-up of programmes throughout the festival, including Meet the Story Makers talks featuring authors, illustrators, publishers and children's content creators, Story Explorers Workshops focused on creative writing and storytelling, art and craft workshops, integrated art and theatre experiences, storytelling sessions, and an Illustrators Gallery showcasing works by professional and emerging illustrators.
Reflecting Singapore's multicultural literary landscape, the festival will feature programmes in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Highlights include Speak Up in Mandarin!, Turning Words Into Worlds: How Illustrators Bring Stories To Life (Malay), Let's Tell Tamil Stories Together!, and Stories That Jump Off the Page! (Malay), offering young readers and families opportunities to engage with stories and creative expression across different languages and cultures.
The programme also includes workshops organised by NAFA's School of Young Talents, including Fly Your Flag High, "Pling!", "Pak!", "Bong!", and Treasures in a Child's Life, offering children opportunities to explore creativity through visual arts, storytelling and performance.
Visitors can also explore the festival bazaar, featuring children's books from local publishers and opportunities to meet creators behind some of Singapore's best-loved stories.
The Singapore Children's Book Festival 2026 takes place at NAFA Campus 2 from 19 to 21 June 2026, with the exhibition remaining open until 3 July 2026. Admission to the festival and exhibition is free, while selected workshops and talks require registration and ticket purchase.
For programme details, ticketing information and registration, visit scbf.sg.
Further information on the festival and downloadable images are available here.
For media queries, please contact:
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Chin Wei Chong
Director, Marketing & Communications Office
Email: [email protected]
Shevonne Ang
Lead, Marketing & Communications Office
Email: [email protected]
Singapore Book Publishers Association
Kay Tan
Secretariat
Email: [email protected]