Could the 2026 ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ be in Cavan or Monaghan?
Votes to enter your favourite local bookshop for the ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ will close on Wednesday, September 9 at 11.59pm
The hunt is on to find the ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year 2026’, and book lovers across Ireland are being invited to vote for the bookshop that means the most to them. The category is now back for the sixth year running at the An Post Irish Book Awards, the annual literary event that celebrates and promotes Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible.
The ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ award celebrates the vital role that independent bookshops and local branches of bookshop chains play in their communities, from helping readers discover their next great read to creating welcoming spaces where a love of books and literature can thrive.
Previous winners include:
Chapters Bookstore, Dublin 1 2025
Little Acorns Bookstore, Derry 2024
Halfway Up the Stairs in Greystones 2023
Bridge Street Books, Wicklow 2022
Kennys Bookshop and Art Gallery, Galway 2021
Bookshop customers across Ireland can now nominate their favourite bookshop by visiting Anpost.com/bookshopoftheyear. Readers can also vote by scanning the QR code displayed on posters in participating bookshops and following the instructions to cast their vote. Everyone who votes will be entered into a draw to win 1 of 3 €100 One4all vouchers.
Voting for the ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ will close at 11:59pm on Wednesday, September 9. The 12 bookshops around Ireland who receive the most online votes will then be longlisted and invited by the judges to enter a written submission. Mystery shoppers will also visit the 12 shops as part of the judging process.
Following this, a shortlist of six shops will be finalised for the ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ which will be officially announced in October. The overall winner will be presented with their trophy at the An Post Irish Book Awards ceremony on Tuesday, December 1 in the Convention Centre Dublin. The winner will receive a trophy along with a prize worth €5,000 from An Post Commerce.
Celebrating its 21st year, the An Post Irish Book Awards champion Irish writing and connect books and authors with the widest possible audience. The awards bring together a passionate community of readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians to celebrate the very best of new and established Irish writing talent – and 2026 will be no different.
Categories in the An Post Irish Book Awards include Novel of the Year, Children’s (Junior and Senior), Crime Fiction, Popular Fiction, Non-Fiction, Sports, Short Story, Poetry, Teen and Young Adult and Irish Language. A television programme will be broadcast on RTÉ One television in December, culminating in one of the 2026 winning titles being announced as the ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2026’.
Sinéad McCorry, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, says: “Bookshops are at the heart of communities across Ireland, offering far more than just books. They are places where readers can discover new authors and stories, connect with others and share a genuine love of literature. The An Post Bookshop of the Year award gives us an opportunity to recognise the important role that bookshops and booksellers play in enriching their local communities and supporting Ireland’s vibrant literary culture.
Now in its sixth year, this award has become a wonderful celebration of the bookshops that bring readers together and help foster a lifelong love of books. We encourage book lovers across the country to get behind their favourite local bookshop and cast their vote for the An Post Bookshop of the Year 2026.”
Maria Dickenson, Chair of Bookselling Ireland, says: “Our bookshops are such an important pillar of community life across Ireland, creating welcoming spaces where people can discover their next favourite book, meet like-minded readers and connect with the stories and authors that matter to them. Booksellers are passionate advocates for reading and play a huge role in bringing Irish books and authors to new audiences.
“The An Post Bookshop of the Year award is a fantastic opportunity to recognise and celebrate the people behind these much-loved spaces. We’re encouraging readers everywhere to get involved, show their appreciation and nominate the local bookshop that holds a special place in their heart.”
Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels said: “Bookshops play a unique role in communities across Ireland. They are places of discovery, connection and conversation, introducing readers to new stories and authors while creating welcoming spaces for everyone to enjoy. The An Post Bookshop of the Year award is about recognising the passion, expertise and dedication of booksellers who work tirelessly to foster a love of reading in their local communities and with their international customers. We are proud to support this award and encourage readers across the country to champion the bookshop that has made a difference to them and get voting."
For further information, please visit the An Post Irish Book Awards website www.anpostirishbookawards.ie.