World Biennials of Art Bookbinding

Art Bookbinding international contest

Our Art bookbinding international contest has been existing for more than 30 years. It clearly is the oldest international bookbinding contest. This event is a must for professionals and a challenge for binding schools and amateur bookbinders. The theme for 2026 competition is “La Vagabonde”, by Colette. Register now !

News

The books to be bound “La Vagabonde” are available!

The books to be bound for the novel “La Vagabonde” by COLETTE have arrived in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse! They will be sent to the bookbinders very soon !

Registration for the 18th World Biennial of Art Bookbinding

✨ Calling All Art Bookbinding Enthusiasts! The registrations for the 2026 International Art Bookbinding Competition are now open! 🎉

Special Offer: set of 3 books to bind

Special Offer! Get a set of 3 books to bind at the exceptional price of €75

Exclusive: A Sneak Peek at the Illustrations!

Exclusive: A Sneak Peek at the Illustrations, created by artist Véronique FRAMPAS, for the 2026 art bookbinding competition

Thank you to our Partners

Thanks to those entities to support the World Biennials

17h Art Bookbinding international contest - 2024 edition

Thanks to all the visitors,

from 19 to 22 of september 2024 :

a 4-day public exhibition

to celebrate Art Bookbinding

and French litterature

The public exhibition took place in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (78-France), at Espace Jean Racine. All bindings participating to the competion were shown to the public, i.e. around 280 bindings. We were glad to share :

Exhibition opening ceremony : September 18th
Conference “Vol de Nuit et l’Aéropostale” : September 19th
Bookbinders’ dinner : September 20th
Award ceremony : September 21st
Introduction to bookbinding for children with Dulce Maria, art bookbinder and candidate to 2024 competition.
Supplier fair : September 19th to 22nd
Binding restitution : September 22nd, 2024, at 17:00 or click here to organize reexpedition. See contest regulation.

Exhibition opening ceremony in Saint-Rémy lès Chevreuse (78 - France)

Mme Michèle Douaze, présidente de l’association des Biennales Mondiales de la Reliure d’Art, et Mme Micheline Mareschi, en charge des Relations Publiques et de la Communication, avec M. Dominique Bavoil, maire de Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, accompagné de M. Jacques Caous et Mme Myriam Schwartz, conseillers municipaux, lors de l’inauguration le 18 septembre 2024 de la 17^e édition des Biennales Mondiales de la Reliure d’Art

Award ceremony

18 prix ont été remis aux lauréats, originaires d’Estonie, Suisse, France, Vietnam, Chine, Corée du Sud, Allemagne… Bravo à tous !

278 bindings presented to the public

On every Bienniale, all participating bindings are exposed. In 2024, 278 bindings were exposed from 19th to 22nd of September.

on the theme of Vol de nuit, a novel of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

In 2024 candidates were proposed to bind VOL DE NUIT by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Conference Vol de Nuit et l'Aéropostale

Conférence de Laurent de GALEMBERT, Professeur agrégé et Docteur ès Lettres, vice-président de l’association des Amis d’Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, jeudi 19 septembre 2024

Bookbinding Suppliers' fair

Le Salon des fournisseurs s’est déroulé en parallèle de l’exposition du 19 au 22 septembre 2024. 18 fournisseurs venus de France, de Belgique et du Royaume-Uni ont proposé à la vente leurs cuirs, parchemins, papiers marbrés, papiers à la colle, outillage, et aussi des livres et des abonnements à la revue Art et Métiers du Livre.

World Biennials of Art Bookbinding - in short

A unique international contest

This cultural artistic contest is a unique one. It is a not-to-be-missed event for professionals , binding schools and amateur bookbinders in the world.

30 years of existence

Culture patronage, the Biennials Art bookbinding are organized since 2005 in St Rémy-lès-Chevreuse,Yvelines county (78) in France. The 17th edition will take place in 2024.

More than 20 participating countries

Participating countries from all continents : Germany, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, South Korea, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, USA, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Morocco, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland …

French literature in the spotlight

Colette, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Joseph Kessel, Albert Camus, Victor Hugo, Michel Tournier, Maurice Leblanc, Jean de la Fontaine, Charles Perrault, Beaumarchais, Jules Verne…

Exceptional savoir-faire

Traditional, full skin leather, inlays, Bradel, Italian binding, Japanese binding, object book….

600 numbered prints

Each book is unique and has a typographical printing of high quality on 160 g Velin d’Arches 100% chiffon, work carried out by Cheyne printing-works which is awarded a Living Heritage Company label.

International Suppliers' Fair

A suppliers’ fair is held jointly with the Exhibition of the bindings from September 19 to 22, 2024 at the Espace Jean Racine in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (France – 78). 18 suppliers were there to offer you the opportunity to buy leather, parchment, marbled paper, glue paper, tools, books and more.

Art & Métiers du livre – Marie AKAR – Éditions FATON site web, À chacun son livre – Frédérique Boulas – bookshop site web, Maison ALIVON – Pascal et Marion Saussier – tools, dorure site web, APG Reliure – Céline et Alexandre – tools site web, AQUARELLE+ – Elena Sorokine – pigments de grande qualité site web, Atelier BONANNI – Yann Bonanni – pareur site web, Editions DOUIN – plans Turgot site web, LIEUTARD – Didier Lieutard – leather site web, HARMATAN – Marc Lamb – leather site web, ALRAN – M. Verdier – leather site web, DUSARSE Mélanie – marbled paper site web, HAMAÏDE Marie-Anne – marbled paper site web, PERRY Katalin – marbled paper site web, PRINA Daniela – marbled paper site web, LASSERRE Anne – marbled paper site web, PINET Anne – art paper site web, RELMA – leather, art papers site web, SOFIC – Jean-Claude Fassey – leather site web