Ukraine launches Independent Bookstore Week to support small businesses

Ukraine has launched Independent Bookstore Week, an initiative aimed at supporting small businesses, which will take place from June 24–30, 2025. 

The initiative seeks not only to support independent bookstores as businesses but also to reaffirm their role as cultural hubs in Ukrainian cities — spaces of trust, dialogue, and collective action.

“In times of major change and challenges, it is small bookstores that remain centers of humanity: they build reading communities, amplify new voices, provide space for Ukrainian authors, and support local identities,” the organizers emphasized.

More than 15 independent bookstores from Kyiv, Odesa, Rivne, Dnipro, Cherkasy, and other cities have already joined the initiative, including:

• Readeat (Kyiv)
• Muza (Kyiv)
• Space Books (Kyiv)
• Zakapelok (Kyiv)
• My Book Shelf (Kyiv)
• Misto (Kyiv)
• Book Lion (Kyiv, Lviv)
• Plekai (Kyiv, Lviv)
• Nisha (Dnipro)
• Paperove Zhyttia / Paper Life (Odesa)
• Tyra (Irpin)
• Katebooks (Irpin)
• Lisova Knyharnia / Forest Bookstore (Irpin)
• Cozy Bookstore (Rivne)
• Pershyi Tom / First Volume (Cherkasy)
• Lovely Book online bookstore 

“This week is not just about promotion — it’s an attempt to bring together different parts of the book ecosystem: readers, booksellers, publishers, authors, translators, and journalists — around the idea of a strong, vibrant Ukrainian book culture. It’s also an invitation to dialogue, where an independent bookstore is seen not just as a retail point, but as a point of support,” the organizers said.

Throughout the week, thematic events will be held at each participating bookstore: author talks, readings, merch swaps, promotions, and giveaways for visitors.

According to the organizers, each bookstore will choose its own format for the promotional activities but will present them within a shared communication campaign to draw the attention of readers and publishers to the uniqueness of independent bookstores.

“We aim not only to highlight the diversity of independent bookstores but also to make this week a meaningful event for the entire reading community. We want to create a new annual tradition,” the organizers said.

RELATED: The chain bookstores are replacing independent ones in Poland — recent study

Main image: Readeat bookstore

Copy editing: Ben Angel