Independent Bookshop Week is a celebration of independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland. It aims to highlight the vital role independent bookshops play in their communities, and to encourage consumers to shop for their summer reads with their local independent. The campaign was launched in 2006.
 
Independent Bookshop Week takes place annually, mid-June (the first weekend of the campaign usually overlaps with Fathers’ Day). Hachette UK is the headline sponsor, with support from Gardners and NielsenQ BookData. More than 700 independent bookshops are registered to participate.

Independent Bookshop Week 2026 (the 20th anniversary!) takes place Saturday 13 - Saturday 20 June.

Independent Bookshop Week 2025 Activity

Ambassadors
This year’s ambassadors are Lorraine Kelly - renowned broadcaster and author of The Island Swimmer (13 March 2025), Mike Gayle - mutiple Sunday Times bestseller and author of Hope Street (5 June 2025), and L.D. Lapinski - the internationally published in 16 languages author of Kickflip Vol. 1 (19 June 2025).

“I am so thrilled to be an ambassador for Independent Bookshop Week. Independent bookshops play a huge part in communities across the UK as they create new generations of readers, which as a book lover is incredibly close to my heart.” - Lorraine Kelly
 
“Independent Bookshops have been at the heart of my 25 year career, from supporting my events at libraries and local community centres, to hand selling signed stock and hosting me in their events spaces. I love working with individual booksellers who are often incredibly passionate and know their communities inside out.  My local Indie, The Heath Bookshop has, in a very short space of time, made itself a vital cultural and community hub, not only hosting new and established author events but also launching their very own literary festival into the bargain! Their collaborations and relationships with surrounding independent businesses has helped to make this area of Birmingham a buzzing cultural and social destination where all are welcome.” - Mike Gayle
 
“A week before my debut book was published, the UK went into lockdown. All the bookshops closed, and I remember thinking this was a death-knell for my book, and for many others. But barely an hour after the announcement, I got a message from an independent bookshop asking What can we do to help each other? It was like finding a hand to hold in the dark. I owe independent bookshops a huge debt in getting my debut series into readers’ hands. Their enthusiasm for new stories, new readers and new ways of doing things is unmatched. There is an intrinsic social value to an independent bookshop. Where shoppers have the chance to spend their money locally, keep their local economies turning and their local high street alive.” - L.D. Lapinski
 
Exclusive Poem
Following the success of poems created by Brian Bilston, Hollie McNish and Dean Atta and George Mpanga (aka George the Poet), Michael Pedersen - current Edinburgh Makar (Poet Laureate) and author of 2023 Books Are My Bag Readers Awards category winner The Cat Prince & Other Poems - has written an exclusive poem which will be shared across the @booksaremybag social media channels on Tuesday 17 June at 6pm to celebreate Independent Bookshop Week. 
 

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“The indies have triumphantly and steadfastly steered my books, and millions of other literary oddballs, into the hands of the right readers. They operate so skilfully beyond the brass of any online book buying algorithm the comparison ends here. The indies soar for authors because they’re so invested in the work, and even the wellbeing, of the many writers who waltz through their doors. It’s because they’ve creatively crafted their own style and identity; it’s because they’re trusted by those that quest them out; and because stories can change lives and that mantra seeps from the pores of their brilliant booksellers.” - Michael Pedersen

Watch poems from previous years on the Books Are My Bag YouTube channel. 

High Five for Bookshops
High Five for Bookshops, the giveaway from National Book Tokens, was back for a sixth year in 2024. Participating bookshops rewarded 100 lucky customers each with unique codes, which customers could then use to claim a £5/€5 National Book Tokens e-Gift card to spend instore.

How can I celebrate Independent Bookshop Week?

Our thanks to our headline sponsor, Hachette UK. Thanks also to Gardners and NielsenQ BookData for their invaluable support.

If you are a bookseller or publisher and would like more information about the campaign, please visit the Booksellers Association website.