How do you plan to stay inspired in 2025? We recommend visiting some in-person events as they often provide the freshest inspiration. Illustration fairs and design festivals are wonderful opportunities to see beautiful artwork, hear insightful talks and meet like-minded creatives.
To help you out, we’ve put together a list of illustration-related events throughout 2025 in the UK and further afield. The exact dates and details of many of these events are kept under wraps until closer to the time; give the organisers a follow to stay up-to-date as more information is released.
The London Book Fair
With a 50-year history, The London Book Fair has become a key date in the publishing industry’s calendar. Exhibitors and visitors return year-on-year to develop relationships and gain insights into what is new in the world of books. Featuring over 100 seminars, the fair hosts discussions about some of the hottest topics in the industry today: sustainability in publishing, how to get published, literary translation, diversity and inclusion, and emerging trends.
Date: 11th - 13th March 2025
Location: London, UK
Website: londonbookfair.co.uk
Instagram: @londonbookfair
Rotterdam Illustration Festival
Rotterdam Illustration Festival is here to 'gatebreak' the illustration world with real talk and honest insights. They want to encourage creatives to step out of their studio life and join them for fun, community-building activities, engaging workshops, eye-opening talks, a buzzing market and many more opportunities to be inspired. The weekend-long event is all about sharing truths, creating opportunities, and building a stronger illustration community.
Date: 15th - 16th March 2025
Location: Rotterdam, Holland
Website: rotterdamillustrationfestival.nl
Instagram: @rdamillufest
Bologna Children's Book Fair
With 61 years of experience, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair has grown into an industry-leading event which brings together a diverse global audience each year. Publishers, illustrations, graphic designers, literary agents, printers, booksellers, teachers and librarians all flock to Bologna in Italy for the fair each Spring. The 2024 edition was attended by over 1,500 exhibitors from around 100 countries, displaying what’s next in children’s literature.
Date: 31st March - 3rd April 2025
Location: Bologna, Italy
Website: bolognachildrensbookfair.com
Instagram: @bolognachildrensbookfair
Pictoplasma
Getting ready for its 21st edition, Pictoplasma is the world’s leading festival on contemporary character design. Across three bustling days, this Berlin-based conference brings together creators and producers from all visual genres - illustration, animation, game design, crafts, fine and graphic arts - to celebrate their shared passion for character design and learn from one another. Expect workshops, lectures, discussions, screenings, exhibitions and more.
Date: 1st - 4th May 2025
Location: Berlin, Germany
Website: conference.pictoplasma.com
Instagram: @pictoplasma
BDF Conference Trust
BDF Conference is a celebration of design held in Birmingham across two days in June. Every year, BDF alternates between hosting a festival and a conference to keep things fresh - and in 2025 it’s time for a conference! You can expect a day of talks delivered by top designers from around the world followed by a day of fun, interactive workshops.
Date: June 2025
Location: Birmingham, UK
Website: birminghamdesignfestival.org.uk
Instagram: @designfestbrum
New Designers
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025, New Designers is an annual London showcase of the UK’s most innovative emerging art and design talent. The fair provides a platform for over 3,000 graduates to present their visionary ideas to industry professionals and the public. The event takes place over two weeks and features an array of disciplines, spanning fashion, textiles, fine art, photography, furniture, product design, illustration and more.
Date: 2nd - 12th June 2025
Location: London, UK
Website: newdesigners.com
Instagram: @newdesigners
New Blood Festival
Hosted by D&AD, New Blood Festival is the perfect opportunity to get inspired by the next generation of creative talent. Featuring a graduate showcase of more than 40 exhibiting university courses, the event boasts one of the biggest and best line-ups of talent you’ll see this year. Work from the winners of D&AD’s famous New Blood awards scheme will also be on display.New Blood Festival
Date: July 2025
Location: London, UK
Website: dandad.org
Instagram: @newblood_dandad
London Design Festival
The 23rd edition of London Design Festival will take place in the Autumn of 2025, promoting the city as the design capital of the world. The festival brings together creatives from all different design disciplines - from interior and product design to graphic art and illustration - for a week packed full of talks, installations, panel discussions, exhibitions and more.
Date: 13th - 21st September 2025
Location: London, UK
Website: londondesignfestival.com
Instagram: @l_d_f_official
Illustration Festival
After a debut in Lyon and a Parisian spin-off, both taking place last year, the French Illustration Festival can't wait to return in 2025! Organised by KIBLIND, this entirely-free, international event dedicated to contemporary illustration will welcome more than 80 illustrators who will prove that once kneaded, illustration is an elastic material that can take an infinite number of forms.
Date: 27th - 29th September 2025
Location: Lyon, France
Website: illustration-festival.com
Instagram: @if_illustrationfestival
Glasgow Print Fair
Scotland’s most popular annual celebration of print, Glasgow Print Fair, will return at the end of the year for another day full of illustrated delights. Talented illustrators and artists from across the UK will gather together to sell their printed goods. With a broad array of styles on display all under one roof, Glasgow Print Fair is the perfect spot to get inspired.
Date: November 2025
Location: Glasgow, UK
Website: glasgowprintfair.co.uk
Instagram: @glasgowprintfair
The London Illustration Fair
Established in 2013, The London Illustration Fair was set up to champion the best illustrators, collectives, companies, galleries and creative start-ups making an impact on the scene today. This artist-led fair offers the chance to come face-to-face with your favourite artists and discover amazing new artwork from emerging illustrators. As well as lots of beautiful art prints for sale, there are also workshops and portfolio reviews as part of the event.
Date: December 2025
Location: London, UK
Website: thelondonillustrationfair.co.uk
Instagram: @thelondonillustrationfair
Brighton Illustration Foundation
Formerly known as Brighton Illustration Fair, Brighton Illustration Foundation began in 2016 running an annual event focusing on the medium in all its forms through exhibitors, guests, talks, screenings and more. BIF is currently on hiatus but be sure to give them a follow to stay updated when they do make their much-anticipated return.
Date: TBC
Location: Brighton, UK
Website: brightonillustrationfoundation.com
Instagram: @wearebif
Dundee Design Festival
Taking place in the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design, Dundee Design Festival is a national celebration of design. The 2024 edition saw a week of free exhibitions, workshops, talks and events, featuring work of more than 180 designer all under one roof. Dundee Design Festival does not take place every year but be sure to follow them for updates when the festival returns.
Date: TBC
Location: Dundee, UK
Website: dundeedesignfestival.com
Instagram: @dnd_designfest
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