Bookstores outpace libraries in new study of Ukrainians’ cultural habits

More Ukrainians visited bookstores than libraries over the past year, according to a nationwide study conducted by Research.ua and publicly presented by Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture during a discussion at the “Believe in Yourself” venue.

The survey found that 30% of respondents visited only a bookstore during the year, while 21% visited both a bookstore and a library. Just 8% reported visiting only a library.

Another 18% said they did not visit either a library or a bookstore but did read books, while 17% neither visited libraries or bookstores nor read books. Six percent were unable to answer or recall.

Women were more likely than men to visit bookstores. Over the course of the year, 36% of women visited a bookstore, compared with 24% of men. Both a library and a bookstore were visited by 24% of women and 19% of men. Men were also more likely not to engage with books at all: 21% said they neither visited a library or bookstore nor read a book, compared with 12% of women.

Among age groups, respondents ages 18-25 recorded the highest rate of visits to both libraries and bookstores, at 29%. The figure was 23% among those ages 26-35, 22% among those ages 36-45 and 15% among those ages 46-55.

Bookstores were visited most frequently by respondents ages 46-55, at 35%, followed by those ages 18-25, at 32%, and ages 26-35, at 31%. Among respondents ages 36-45, 25% reported visiting only bookstores.

The share of respondents who did not visit either a library or bookstore but still read books was lowest among those ages 18-25, at 9%. The figure rose to 16% among respondents ages 26-35 and to 20% among both the 36-45 and 46-55 age groups.

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The study also found that cultural participation remains widespread despite the full-scale invasion. More than half of respondents attend cultural events at least once every few months, with 30% attending once a month or more often and 26% attending every two to three months. Another 37% attend cultural events once every six months or less frequently, while 7% said they do not attend cultural events at all.

At the same time, attendance has declined since the start of the full-scale war. Among respondents who attend cultural events, 31% said they now attend significantly less often and 35% somewhat less often. Nineteen percent attend as often as before, while 15% attend significantly or somewhat more often.

Cinema remains the most popular form of cultural leisure. Among respondents who attended cultural events, 66% went to the movies over the past year. Music concerts were attended by 42%, while 40% attended theater performances.

Book fairs ranked among the most-attended cultural events, with 23% of cultural event attendees visiting one during the year. Tours of historical heritage sites attracted 22%, exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and other artworks 20%, public celebrations of special dates 20%, and public commemorations of a person or event 18%.

Literary or poetry readings were attended by 9% of respondents, public lectures by 8%, opera and ethnic festivals by 7% each, and ballet by 5%.

Attendance rates among respondents ages 18-25 exceeded the overall average for several categories. Eighty-one percent attended movies at the cinema, 53% attended theater performances, 29% visited book fairs, 30% attended exhibitions, 13% attended literary or poetry readings, 15% attended public lectures and 16% attended the opera.

Respondents most often named the need to relax and take a break from work and daily life as a reason for attending cultural events, with 62% selecting this motivation. Another 56% attended events to find inspiration or enjoy themselves, 51% to distract themselves from difficult news and sad events, and 47% for personal development or self-improvement.

When asked what would encourage them to attend cultural events more often, respondents most frequently pointed to financial and time constraints. Fifty-four percent said they would attend more often if they had more money, while 48% cited having more free time. Another 26% said they would attend more frequently if events were held closer to where they live or work.

Among respondents who had not attended a single cultural event during the year, the most commonly cited barriers were uncertainty related to current events in Ukraine, insufficient funds, a lack of cultural venues or events in their place of residence, and difficult life circumstances. Each reason was named by 23% of respondents.

The survey was conducted online between Dec. 22, 2025, and Jan. 7, 2026, and included 2,000 respondents ages 18-55 from all regions of Ukraine except the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson Oblasts.

According to the study description, the sample reflects the characteristics of Ukraine’s urban population by gender, age and region of residence as of the start of the full-scale invasion. The research aimed to examine public opinion on Ukraine’s cultural sphere, participation in cultural life, and everyday and cultural language practices.

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