An Post Bookshop of the Year’ longlist revealed for 2026
- Twelve bookshops around Ireland selected for the ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ longlist
- Shortlist of six bookshops will be revealed on October 22nd with the overall winner announced at the An Post Irish Book Awards on December 1st
12 bookshops across the country have been longlisted for the ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ category at this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards, the annual literary event that celebrates and promotes Irish writing and authors to the widest range of readers possible.
The ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ category is designed to acknowledge the significant role played by independent bookshops and local branches of bookshop chains in helping their local communities to find and savour the titles of their choice. 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
The longlist of twelve bookshops around Ireland for 2026 in alphabetical order are:
- Bantry Bookshop, Co. Cork
- Books at One, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo
- Bridge Books Dromore, Co. Down
- Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Galway
- Genius Juniors, Co. Clare
- Leaf and Bower, Co. Cork
- O’Mahony’s Booksellers, Limerick
- Philip’s Bookshop, Mallow, Co. Cork
- Tales for Tadpoles, Bray, Co. Wicklow
- The Book Centre, Waterford
- The Bookshelf, Newry
- Woodbine Books, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
Customers were asked to vote for their favourite bookshops, with the bookshops that received the most votes then being longlisted. They have now been invited by the judges to submit a written entry. For more information on the process, visit https://www.irishbookawards.ie/an-post-bookshop-of-the-year/
The shortlist of six bookshops will now be selected by an independent judging panel, the judges for 2026 are:
- Judging Chair – Maria Dickenson
- Sheila O’Reilly – Project Manager for Booksellers Association
- Ronan Richmond – Sales Director at Argosy Wholesale
- Cian Byrne – Managing Director of John Byrne Books Ltd. and Chair of Bookselling Ireland
- Jacq Murphy – Senior Sales Manager at Gill Hess Ltd.
- Mick Finucane – Chief Executive Officer at Chapters Bookstore
- Lauren Murphy, Social Media Manager at An Post
The shortlist will be officially announced on the 22nd October. The overall winner of ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ will be presented with their trophy at the An Post Irish Book Awards event on 1st December along with a prize worth €5,000 from An Post Commerce.
Each year, the An Post Irish Book Awards bring together a vast community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the very best of new and established Irish writing talent and 2026 will be no different.
Other 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, Poem, History, Teen and Young Adult and Irish Language.
Sinéad McCorry, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, says: “Bookshops are the cornerstone of many communities across Ireland, and this category was established to recognise the central role they play – not only within the book trade, but in celebrating Ireland’s rich and extensive literary heritage. More than just places to buy books, they are cultural hubs that spark creativity, bring people together and foster a love of reading among people of all ages.
We are particularly delighted to see such a strong and geographically diverse group of bookshops represented on this year’s longlist, reflecting the important contribution independent and local bookshops make in communities right across Ireland. We extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to all of the longlisted bookshops.”
Cian Byrne, Chair of Bookselling Ireland, says: “For generations, bookshops have been an important part of Ireland’s cultural life, providing welcoming spaces where people can discover new authors, revisit old favourites and share a love of books. Booksellers are at the heart of this, connecting readers with stories and helping to nurture Ireland’s vibrant literary culture. It is wonderful to see that contribution recognised through this award, and the 2026 longlist is a fantastic reflection of the passion, individuality and commitment that bookshops across Ireland bring to their communities. The breadth of this year’s longlist, with bookshops represented from right across the country, is a testament to the strength and diversity of Ireland’s bookselling community.”
Commenting on the important role bookshops play in local communities, Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels says: “At An Post, we see first-hand the important role local bookshops play, not only as cultural hubs within their communities, but as vital businesses contributing to local economies across Ireland.
Through An Post Commerce, we work with businesses of every size to help them reach customers, grow their sales and compete in an increasingly digital marketplace. This award celebrates the resilience, innovation and commitment of Ireland’s booksellers, and recognises the significant contribution they make to the commercial and cultural life of communities nationwide. We are delighted to support and champion their success through the An Post Irish Book Awards.”
For further information, please visit to the An Post Irish Book Awards website
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