by@0717vikkicreates
The inaugural Shanghai Illustration & Pop Show (SIPS) willtake place from May 29 to 31, 2026 at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre.
SIPS is organised by BolognaFiere China Ltd. and Shanghai Xinhua Distribution Group Co., Ltd., guided by Shanghai United Media Group and supported by the Jing'an District Culture and Tourism Development Promotion Centre. It is presented in partnership with the Shanghai International Culture Association and the Cultural Office of the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai, with academic support from the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition and Mimaster Illustrazione (Milan, Italy). MINI serves as the principal sponsor.
SIPS originates from the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition: an event with nearly 60 years of history. It aims to create an international platform that gathers artistic expression, commercial collaboration and urban cultural consumption. As illustration continues to expand beyond publishing and graphic media, becoming a key visual language in pop culture, branding and lifestyle, SIPS explores how illustration integrates into contemporary art and creative industries.
SIPS brings together nearly 200 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions, includinggalleries and art institutions, lifestyle and pop brands, illustrators and art platforms, collectively shaping an ecosystem that connects artistic creation, brand collaborationand public cultural experiences.
Bringing Together Pop Culture, Crossover Brands, and Content Creators
SIPS emphasizes the independent value of illustration within contemporary art and lifestyle culture, as well as its diverse commercial possibilities. It is structured around three main sections: Illustration as Art, Pop & Brand and Illustrators Avenue.
Illustration as Art presents original artworks, limited-edition prints, collectible art,and artistic collaborations. ART COOOOL (China), Art Lab (UK), Golden Age Art Gallery (Australia), Gallery Nowhy (South Korea), A.R.T. INSTITUTION (China), and E Gallery (China) will present the fusion of illustration and contemporary culture. The curated SIPS Gallery will feature works by renowned artists including A Geng, Gui Tuzi, Hei Mi, Shi Xiaojie, Tango and Xiong Liang, whose practices span picture book publishing, visual art and contemporary illustration. Popular illustrators such as ANXIA, Stone, Laowang1102, LAN, Sherry Bright, TeaMe, Vikki Zhang, Zhang Lelu and ZHOU will also be showcased.
Pop & Brand places illustration within broader commercial and lifestyle contexts, exploring its crossover collaborations with fashion, automotive culture, pop toys, celebrity IPs, fragrances and lifestyle design.
Illustrators Avenue connects emerging illustrators with strong creative identities and commercial potential, showcasing original works, creative merchandise, IP and its licensed products. It serves as a dynamic interface for publishers, brand managers, and creative agencies to engage with emerging talent.
A Rich Programme of Featured Exhibitions, Talks, and Business Matchmaking
SIPS features four international illustration exhibitions, tracing global style evolution over 30 years. Cover Stories: BCBF Illustrators Annual (1991 – 2026) presents a curated selection of annual covers created by world-leading illustrators over 35 years, weaving together a visual history of stylistic evolution across time. Pinocchio's New Clothes brings together global artists to reimagine the classic character. 10 Visions: The Open Visual Identity of Bologna Children's Book Fair (2017-2026) offers an in-depth review of ten years of visual identity designs for the Bologna Children's Book Fair. The Illustration Art of Van Orton Design showcases the avant-garde pop-culture style of the renowned duo.
The Illustrators Survival Corner jointly curated by SIPS, BolognaFiere and Mimaster Illustrazione (Milan, Italy), aims to empower the professional growth of illustrators through Masterclasses, Workshops, and One-on-one portfolio reviews.
The Masterclasses feature experts from the fields of illustration, branding, art licensing, and visual design. These sessions delve into topics such as career development for illustrators, IP commercialization, brand collaborations, and international market trends, fostering efficient connections between creative output and commercial demand.
The Workshops focus on practical subjects such as commercial illustration workflows, brand visual construction and picture book creation.
One-on-one portfolio reviews, organised in partnership with Licensing Magazine, will build a precise and efficient bridge between illustrators and brands, publishers, creative agencies, and commercial partners, further driving the professional development of the illustration industry ecosystem.
Reserve your tickets in advance by SmartShanghai here: Shanghai Illustration & Pop Show
