The NVNR Awards Dinner takes place on Tuesday, August 4 at 6:30 P.M. This special, ticketed event is a celebration of the spirit and dedication of book people in the NAIBA and SIBA regions. Honorees include authors, members of the book industry, and indie booksellers. For conference attendees the dinner is place to recognize the achievements of their friends and compatriots.
2026 Honorees
Joe Drabyak Spirit Award
Vaugh Lachenauer, Main Point Books, Wayne, PA
Kristin Keith Rep of the Year Award
Julie Isgrigg, Hachette Book Group
NAIBA Book Award
Libba Bray, Under the Same Stars, Farrar Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers
Kate Messner, The Trouble with Heroes
NAIBA Legacy Award
Eileen Dengler, outgoing Executive Director, NAIBA
Nancy Olson Bookseller Award
Dominic Howarth, Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg, FL
Jason Smith, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA
Southern Book Prize
Silas House, All These Ghosts, Blair
Christy Mandin, Millie Fleur Saves the Night, Scholastic
Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Happy Land, Berkley (represented)
The dinner requires an extra $60 ticket, available when registering. NVNR attendees who have already registered can contact their association to add the ticket to their account.