Ten independent publishers from across the UK and Ireland have been named regional and country winners of the Small Press of the Year category at The British Book Awards 2026, highlighting the continued influence of smaller publishers in shaping the industry despite challenging market conditions.
The awards, sponsored by printing company TJ Books, recognised presses from locations ranging from East London and Sheffield to Truro and Dublin. The winners were selected from a shortlist of 63 finalists announced last month and were honoured on Wednesday morning.
The Small Press of the Year prize celebrates independent publishers that champion new voices, broaden representation in literature and create innovative routes to readers. Judges noted the important role smaller presses play in bringing diverse stories to market, including work by authors from working-class backgrounds, Latin American writers and inclusive children’s literature.
Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and chair of the judges for The British Book Awards, said:
“Small presses in the UK and Ireland continue to punch above their weight, growing sales, winning prizes, and building new routes to readers. What draws these publishers together is the dedication to their writers, the determination to find readers for them, and the delight in their successes. Battling increased costs and a bumpy economy, in the National Year of Reading, their work is more necessary the ever.”
Andy Watts, Managing Director of TJ Books, added:
“Congratulations to the Small Press of the Year Regional and Country winners. As part of our renewed commitment to supporting smaller presses, we’re delighted to celebrate the regional and country winners from across the UK and Ireland and to recognise the vital contribution independent publishers make to readers and to the wider industry.”
Regional winners across the UK and Ireland
Among the winners was VERVE Books, based in Harpenden, which secured the East of England title. Since launching in 2018, the publisher has built a curated list of diverse fiction and non-fiction, promoting emerging voices alongside established writers. Its recent successes include Human, Animal by Seth Insua, selected for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club, and Angela Flournoy’s The Wilderness, which was chosen by Barack Obama as one of his favourite reads of 2025.
London produced two winners. Bedford Square Publishers, founded in 2022 in Bloomsbury, was recognised for its agile approach to publishing both fiction and non-fiction, combining traditional industry experience with new technology to connect authors and readers. Meanwhile, Flying Eye Books, established in East London in 2013, was honoured for its distinctive children’s titles, noted for strong visual storytelling and high-quality design.
Children’s publishing was a strong theme among this year’s winners. Dublin-based Townhouse, launched at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2022, won the Island of Ireland category for its global approach to children’s titles and innovative book formats. In the Midlands, Otter-Barry Books in Herefordshire was recognised for its culturally diverse illustrated books and poetry list featuring prominent voices such as John Agard and Joseph Coelho.
In the South-West, Cornwall’s Hungry Tomato was named regional winner for its non-fiction children’s titles designed to inspire curiosity and support learning both at home and in the classroom.
Literary innovation and translation
In the North of England, Sheffield-based And Other Stories secured the regional award. Founded in 2009, the publisher is known for its commitment to literary fiction and translated works. Celebrating its fifteenth anniversary, the press recently published Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi, which won the 2025 International Booker Prize.
Scotland’s winner was Charco Press, headquartered in Edinburgh. The publisher specialises in contemporary Latin American literature in translation and has built a reputation for introducing English-language readers to major international authors whose work has previously been unavailable in the UK.
Further south, Duckworth Books in Richmond won the South-East England category. Founded in 1898, the historic imprint remains one of the UK’s oldest independent publishers and has experienced renewed growth in recent years. The company has tripled its turnover since 2018 and recorded export growth of 38% in 2025.
In Wales, Broken Sleep Books in Llandysul was recognised for its community-focused publishing model. The press champions poetry and prose by working-class writers, LGBTQ+ authors and writers of colour, aiming to widen participation in the creative industries.
A further commendation went to Manchester-based publisher Curious King in the North of England category.
Next stage of the awards
The overall winner of the Small Press of the Year award will be announced during The British Book Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on 11 May 2026. The victor will then go forward to compete for the wider Independent Publisher of the Year title.
Organisers say the strong showing from smaller presses reflects a vibrant and resilient independent publishing sector that continues to innovate, nurture new talent and expand readership across the UK and beyond.
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