SCBWI Summer Conference 2026! Pitch Roundtables!

Less than TWO WEEKS away from the 2026 Virtual Summer Conference, I can't wait for a weekend jammed packed with amazing panels, workshops and more! Today, I want to highlight another fantastic offering— the Pitch Roundtable!

What is a Pitch Roundtable?

Groups of fifteen writers will meet (together as a group) with an agent or editor on Sunday, August 2, at one of the two times listed below. Each writer will have five minutes to pitch their book to the agent or editor. We recommend that you keep your pitch to 2-3 minutes to allow for feedback and questions. Come prepared to verbally pitch your book.

How to Register:

Only SCBWI Premium Members attending the conference can register for the Pitch Roundtables. Please read the bios of each of the industry professionals below to get a sense of who might be interested in your manuscript or work-in-progress. You may register for one fifteen-person roundtable with one agent or editor when you register for the Summer Conference. PLEASE NOTE: There are no refunds given for Pitch Roundtables.

Space is limited! 

Register at scbwi.org or with the link in our bio

The sessions will take place on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the following times:

Session One: 9:00 am–10:30 am PACIFIC/12:00 pm–1:30 pm EASTERN

Session Two: 11:30 am–1:00 pm PACIFIC/ 2:30 pm–4:00 pm EASTERN

UnBanning Books: What the Industry Really Thinks About Book Banning

 UnBanning Books: What the Industry Really Thinks About Book Banning

To kick off this years 2026 Virtual Summer Conference, there will be a panel discussion on the current state of book bans with Phil Bildner, Cheryl L. Davis, George M. Johnson and Namrata Tripathi. Moderated by Alvina Ling.

Censorship isn’t just a headline. It’s reshaping what gets created, sold, and read by young readers everywhere. Hear directly from the people inside children’s publishing about how banned books are changing acquisitions, sales, and the stories being told. Honest and essential listening for anyone who cares about kids and books. This panel, sponsored by the Authors Coalition of America, is FREE and open to the public.

Online on July 30th from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (PDT)

SCBWI Virtual Conference 2026 Scholarships! EXTENDED

Reposting, as the deadline has been EXTENDED!

The countdown to the conference has begin! For those who may need some assistance, SCBWI offers some wonderful scholarships to cover tuition for this year's conference! 

First up, we have the 

BIPOC Scholarship: Summer 2026

For Black, Indigenous, and People of color, this scholarship will reward two winners with tuition to the 2026 SCBWI Virtual Summer Conference. 

Members and Non-members may apply to this scholarship. Submissions for the BIPOC Scholarship is open through July 16, midnight PST.

Visit the BIPOC Scholarship: Summer 2026 for the submission guidelines!

Next, we have the 

Penguin Random House Scholarship (General Scholarship): Summer 2026

This next scholarship generously sponsored by Penguin Random House, grants EIGHT scholarships to SCBWI members who may be experiencing financial hardship with free tuition to the SCBWI conference!

Submissions for the General Conference Scholarship is open until July 16, midnight PST.

Visit the Penguin Random House Scholarship (General Scholarship): Summer 2026 for the submission guidelines! The submission portal can be found in your Member Profile under the AWARDS tab.

Last, but not least, we have the 

Student Illustrator Scholarship: Summer 2026

Each year, the SCBWI sponsors conference scholarships for full-time graduate or undergraduate students studying illustration. The winners will receive admission to the Summer Conference and entry in the Juried Portfolio Showcase. 

Many of our SIS winners have gone on to be represented by agents, get illustration work, publish books, and win awards. SCBWI reserves the right not to award the scholarship in any given year.

For this scholarship, you must submit by July 16, midnight PST. 

You must be currently enrolled, or have graduated in the past semester, as a full-time graduate or undergraduate student at an accredited educational institution, and must be at least 18 years old.

Visit the Student Illustrator Scholarship: Summer 2026 for the submission guidelines! The submission portal can be found in your Member Profile under the AWARDS tab.

How to Submit to the Scholarships

Submission portal can be found in your Member Profile under the AWARDS tab.

1. Click on your MEMBER HOME

2. Click on the AWARDS Icon

3. Scroll down to your desired Scholarship box and click 'submit'

Questions? Please email Sarah Diamond at sarahdiamond@scbwi.org.

Note: In the event that a recipient cannot attend for any reason, SCBWI staff should be notified as soon as possible. The scholarship may, in that event, be awarded to another applicant. The grant is not transferrable and cannot be postponed.

SCBWI 2026 Virtual Conference Keynote Speakers

The keynote speakers for this year's event will be none other than Pam Muñoz Ryan and Brian Selznick! Check out their bios below!

Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Pam Muñoz Ryan is an "American author and the 2026 U.S. nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. She is the author of ECHO, a Newbery Honor book and the recipient of the Kirkus Prize. She has written over forty books, including the novels ESPERANZA RISING, BECOMING NAOMI LEÓN, RIDING FREEDOM, PAINT THE WIND, THE DREAMER, ECHO, and Mañanaland. She is the author recipient of the National Education Association’s Civil and Human Rights Award, the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award for Multicultural Literature, and is twice the recipient of the Pura Belpré Medal and the Willa Cather Award."

"Honors include the PEN USA Award, the Américas Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, and the Orbis Pictus Award."

To read more on Pam Muñoz Ryan, visit her website HERE!

Brian Selznick is an award winning author and illustrator of many books for children and young adults, including The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Run Away With Me, Wonderstuck, Big Tree and many, many more. 

"To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the beloved Harry Potter series, Brian created new covers and a box for all seven books."

"Other books include The Marvels, The Doll People trilogy by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley and Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride by Pam Muñoz Ryan."

His work ranging from novels to short stories to works on the big stage, Brian has "written the story for a new version of The Nutcracker at the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, choreographed by Tony Award winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon (An American In Paris). Brian has worked professionally as a puppeteer with Basil Twist, and he’s created three toy theater pieces directed by Dan Hurlin."

To read more on Brian Selznick, visit his website HERE

Have you registered for the 2026 Virtual Conference yet? Register HERE! Hope to see you there!

Illustrators' Intensive 2026 Virtual Conference

On Sunday, August 2nd, at the end of what shall be a fantastic virtual conference, Pat Cummings, Laurent Linn and Cecilia Yung will be hosting the SCWBI Illustrators' Intensive!

PERSONAL IS POWERFUL: 

Transforming Individual Expression into Universal Communication

Your experiences, interests, and passions are what make you unique as an illustrator and writer. But how do you incorporate these personal aspects into your work in ways that are compelling and relatable to even the youngest reader?

The secret is building a strong emotional connection between your story, your images, and your reader. Powerful storytellers shape their experiences to create dynamic visual narratives that help us make sense of our lives. They reframe personal anecdotes that enable us to recognize ourselves in their stories. They capture specific and nuanced details that invite us into their world. As illustrators, they take advantage of color, composition, expressions, and body language to express the emotions of the experience, so that their fascination, excitement, and disappointment become ours. Their personal stories are grounded in the shared experience—as much about us as they are about them.That’s the thrilling alchemy of storytelling.

Three successful illustrators show how their perceptions shape their unique styles and share the different ways they translate their distinct experiences into impactful visual stories that resonate with readers of all ages.

Who Should Attend?

The Illustrators' Intensive is open to SCBWI Premium Members only. There is an additional $95 fee. Members can purchase the Illustrators Half-Day Intensive as a package with the Portfolio Showcase for a reduced rate.

Check out these interviews from the 2026 Winter Conference with Pat Cummings, Laurent Linn and Cecilia Yung to hear why the Illustrators' Intensive is right for you!

2026 Illustrators' Intensive: Interview with Cecilia Yung

2026 Illustrators' Intensive: Interview with Laurent Linn

2026 Illustrators' Intensive: Interview with Pat Cummings

Summer 2026 Virtual Conference: Portfolio Showcase

Summer 2026 Portfolio Showcase

Our annual Summer Portfolio Showcase is a career-launching opportunity for children's book illustrators! This juried showcase is a terrific way to get your illustrations in front of top publishing professionals. This year’s format will be a three-image portfolio, with links to your SCBWI Member Profile Illustrator Gallery. 

For Conference attendees only, you must submit your work by JULY 17. Artwork uploaded after this time, may not be seen by the judges.

Portfolios are judged as a whole, not on any individual image. The judges are looking for children’s book publishing appropriateness, consistency of a strong illustrative “voice” throughout, and fresh and unique styles.

Visit the Portfolio Awards page to learn how to enter.

You must be registered for the conference to participate and you must be a Premium Member. Participation in the showcase is an additional $75. Members can purchase the Portfolio Showcase as a package with the Illustrators Half-Day Intensive for a reduced rate. 

The showcase winners and honor recipients will be announced live on Zoom at the Summer Conference Wrap-Up and Awards on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

Get your art in front of industry professionals at our career-launching online showcase. 

PRIZES

1 Gold Award (1) winner will receive:Free admission to the next Virtual Summer Conference,
Two phone/virtual meetings with art directors/agents who will provide guidance and feedback on your portfolio,
A one year renewal of your SCBWI membership, and
Two images from your portfolio will be showcased in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.*

1 Silver Award winner will receive:Two phone/virtual meetings with art directors/agents who will provide guidance and feedback on your portfolio,
A one year renewal of your SCBWI membership, and
One image from your portfolio will be showcased in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.*

2 Bronze Award winners will receive:One phone/virtual meeting with an art director or agent who will provide guidance and feedback on your portfolio.
One image from the winner’s portfolio will be showcased in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.*

Images from the Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners’ portfolios will be displayed in a special showcase in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair along with their name, website, and country of origin. There will be more than 30,000 people and 1500 exhibitors from 100 countries attend this renowned book fair.