By Andrew Richard Albanese, Editor-in-Chief
Nominations are now open for the Chytomo Awards for Outstanding Achievements in Publishing 2026, which recognize the contributions of individuals and organizations to Ukraine’s publishing and literary sectors.
Now in its fourth year, the Chytomo Awards recognize “cultural managers, publishers, creative and civic organizations, libraries, book journalists and bloggers, booksellers and distributors, and others whose achievements have made a significant impact on the industry.” The award is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation and the Mnozhyna Foundation. Winners will receive 150,000 UAH (approximately $3,285) in each category.
The Chytomo team at the 2025 Chytomo Book Award ceremony (credit: Nastia Telikova).
Nominations will be open through November 23, and this year will see a new category added to the awards—Local Change Attribution. The category will recognize “initiatives that support cultural life in local communities, improve access to books and reading, strengthen community ties and mutual support, and involve military personnel and veterans in literary creation and cultural activities.” Preference for the award will be given to initiatives in frontline communities.
The three existing categories include:
- Publishing Solutions—which recognizes “innovative approaches to publishing, creative business transformation during wartime, the development of new partnerships and Ukraine’s book industry, inclusive practices, corporate social responsibility, and contributions to countering Russian aggression and war crimes.”
- Ambassador of the Ukrainian Book —which recognizes “individuals who have helped raise the international profile of Ukrainian books and literature, promoted a positive image of Ukrainian culture, developed international partnerships, and found new ways to promote Ukrainian literature abroad.”
- Book Initiative That Promotes Reading —which recognizes “initiatives that encourage reading, create spaces and opportunities for readers, transform education through literature, and support people through reading during wartime.”
“This year, we’ve made several changes to the award because we found ourselves asking: Can we really talk about outstanding achievements in an industry that is being systematically destroyed, when simply remaining in this field is an outstanding achievement in itself?” said Iryna Baturevych, co-founder of Chytomo, in a news release. “We realized that Ukrainian publishing is simply not in a position to ‘set trends’ right now. But we must look for solutions that will help us get through this difficult time and carry on the tradition of Ukrainian publishing and writing.”
Ukrainian and foreign organizations can nominate candidates, including “cultural institutions, civic associations, companies, educational institutions, libraries and library associations, and media organizations.” Each organization may nominate up to three candidates, one in each category, by completing the application form here. Non-Ukrainian nominating organizations may submit in English.
The Chytomo Award was chartered in 2023 by Chytomo, a media outlet covering books and publishing in Ukraine and around the world. After the nomination period closes, an organizing committee will compile a long list of candidates and select five nominees for the shortlist in each category. The Chytomo Award ceremony will then take place in Kyiv in late January 2027. For more information see the 2026 Chytomo Award regulations.
This year’s awards come as Russian Attacks on Ukraine’s Publishing Infrastructure continue. In a post on its Telegram, Ukrainian publisher KSD (Family Leisure Club) reported a Russian attack struck its warehouse in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on October 27, destroying or damaging more than 300,000 books. As Publishing Perspectives previously reported, a series of Russian attacks over the summer caused massive damage to key book industry infrastructure, including publishing offices, warehouses, bookstores, libraries, and printing facilities, with more than 10 million books said to destroyed.
