Winter Institute 2026
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
The 21st edition of the annual Winter Institute, organised by the American Booksellers Association (ABA), will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 23-26 February 2026.
Like every year, the Winter Institute will offer an exclusive packed programme curated for the interests of independent booksellers - four days of educational sessions, as well as keynote talks, author receptions, publisher parties, and dedicated time to network with booksellers, authors, and publishers from around the USA. And now you can be a part of it!
Have a look at the full programme here.
Applications to participate in the 2026 Winter Institute will open on 14th October 2025 at 2pm CEST.
When and where will the event take place?
The Winter Institute 2026 will take place on 23-26 February 2026, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA, USA!
Successful applicants will be expected to arrive on Saturday, 21 February 2026, so that they can also take part in the bookshop tour organised on Sunday 22 February, with their stay concluding in the morning on 27 February.
In the case of international/oversees travel we strongly encourage the visiting booksellers to spend more time in their destination country than just for the length of the event. We are always happy to help you make the most of your stay by putting you in touch with the local booksellers association, organising bookshop visits, etc. Please note that we only do this upon proactive request from the visiting bookseller.
The conference will be held in English. You can find the full programme of the event here.
What should I know about the RISE grant?
RISE offers financial support in the form of a grant, intended to help participants access this unique professional opportunity. However, please be aware that this grant does not cover all costs associated with attending the event. The amount granted varies per event and was calculated based on previous experiences. The amount allocated for each event is clearly specified on the event page and the dedicated application form. Participants are required to cover all costs upfront, and RISE will reimburse the corresponding grant amount only after the event has taken place, and upon submission of both a feedback form and a reimbursement form. We encourage all applicants to consider this carefully and plan accordingly before applying
Grant allocated for taking part in this specific event:
European and International/Oversees bookseller: 1700€
About the application process
All booksellers interested in applying are encouraged to do so by completing the application form via the button on the right by 12 November 2026 at 23:59 CEST. Note that you will be ask to upload a cover letter (Word, PDF) at the end of the form to complete the application process.
Before applying, we recommend reviewing the FAQ on this page, where you can find details about eligibility requirements, the selection process, and other important information.
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RISE Bookselling is a network project organized by the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) and co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.
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