A New Illustration and Pop Culture Fair is Coming to Shanghai
Illustration, pop culture, fashion, and creative design come together this month as the inaugural Shanghai Illustration & Pop Show (SIPS) arrives at the Shanghai Exhibition Center from May 29 to 31.
Bringing together nearly 200 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions, the new fair aims to turn illustration into a citywide cultural experience that blends art, lifestyle, and commercial creativity.
Originating from the nearly 60-year-old Bologna Illustrators Exhibition, SIPS explores how illustration is evolving far beyond books and graphic media into fashion, branding, pop culture, and urban lifestyle. The event is organized by BolognaFiere China and Shanghai Xinhua Distribution Group, with support from major cultural institutions in both Shanghai and Italy.
The fair is divided into three sections: Illustration as Art, Pop & Brand, and Illustrators Avenue. Visitors can browse original artworks, collectible prints, creative merchandise, and crossover collaborations from galleries, illustrators, lifestyle brands, and independent creators. Featured names include popular Chinese illustrators like A Geng, Tango, Gui Tuzi, Hei Mi, and Xiong Liang, alongside international galleries and emerging talents from across Asia, Europe, and Australia.
Brands also play a major role in the event. MINI collaborates with Shanghai illustrator Pinko Summer for a special "Always Open" theme, while French resortwear label Vilebrequin presents an art project inspired by schools of fish. Korean fashion accessory label Reeero, lifestyle brands like Saturnbird Coffee, and celebrity-led projects from Lil Ghost Wang Linkai and Zhang Yuan will also appear at the show.
Beyond the exhibition floor, SIPS features international illustration exhibitions, masterclasses, workshops, and portfolio review sessions designed to connect young artists with publishers, brands, and creative agencies. Special exhibitions include a retrospective of 35 years of Bologna Children's Book Fair annual covers and a showcase by Italian design duo Van Orton Design.
Part art fair, part lifestyle festival, and part creative industry platform, SIPS offers a new window into the growing influence of illustration in contemporary visual culture.
Date: May 29-31
Venue: Shanghai Exhibition Center 上海展览中心
Address: 1000 Yan'an Rd M. 延安中路1000号
