Irish Book Week 2026

Irish Book Week returns this Saturday for its ninth year, celebrating Irish writers, publishers, illustrators, poets and, of course, the independent bookshops that help bring their work to readers. Running from October 17th to 24th, the nationwide campaign encourages us all to shop local, shop Irish and rediscover the pleasure of browsing a bookshop, finding a new favourite author or attending a local literary event. This year's ambassadors include a wonderful mix of Irish literary talent, among them Cork-born author, journalist and playwright Carina McNally, who joined Derrick Lynch to talk about her role in the campaign, the importance of supporting Irish books and bookshops, and why reading and storytelling matter more than ever. Photo (c) vtmila from Getty Images via Canva