Dear Readers,
It is with immense pride that we celebrate the announcement of the 2026 Independent Press Award winners. This year’s list serves as a powerful reminder that the most vital, innovative, and courageous storytelling is happening within the independent sector.
These are books that set new benchmarks for excellence.
In the words of our president Gabby Olczak, the 2026 winners represent a “global community that refuses to be sidelined.” From the rugged landscapes of primordial survival to the sterile, high-stakes corridors of geopolitical espionage, these authors have navigated the complexities of our current moment with unflinching honesty. We see a recurring call for resilience, not as a passive trait, but as an active, revolutionary choice. Whether it is Stacey Andrade King’s relentless pursuit of justice or Mitchell Raff ’s…
