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Children’s Books Ireland Annual International Conference - New Voices Selection 2026

Introduction

Children’s Books Ireland is dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the work of debut Irish authors and illustrators. This includes a recurrent New Voices slot at our Annual International Conference, where debut children’s artists have the opportunity to present or read from their book alongside their peers. In 2026 Children’s Books Ireland is selecting 10 Irish debut artists (authors/illustrators) for the New Voices slot. This year we are asking you, children’s book publishers, for recommendations on who these 10 should be. These 10 artists will represent a range of disciplines, publishers (Irish and international), age range of young readers and genres.

The 10 selected artists will each present for 5 minutes as part of the New Voices slot at the Children’s Books Ireland International Conference. Please ensure any artists that you propose are available to present at the conference on Sunday 20th September 2026. The 10 shortlisted artists will each receive a free one full day conference ticket for the day in question; we cannot pay a fee or cover expenses. Children’s Books Ireland will liaise with our on-site booksellers to ensure availability of each title for sale where possible and artists will be invited to sign their books following the New Voices session.

Books must be published between 20th September 2025 and 13th September 2026. Books must be widely available in bookshops in Ireland and available for purchase by the general public.
Books must meet basic professional standards of publishing and printing. Editing must be professional with conventions of spelling and grammar upheld. All titles must have a valid ISBN number.
Books may be in English or Irish.

Deadline for completion of this survey is Friday 17th July 2026 at 5pm.

Please use this survey to propose 1–5 artists.
1.Statement for publishers’ signature:

I confirm that XXX (author/illustrator) is Irish by birth, citizenship or residency on the island of Ireland (all 32 counties). I confirm this eligibility is clearly shown in the artist biography provided. Proof of citizenship or proof of address must be available upon request.

I confirm that, if selected, Artist name XXX will be available to take part in the New Voices slot at Children’s Books Ireland’s Annual International Conference, taking place on Sunday 20th September 2026 at Light House Cinema Smithfield, Dublin 7.

I confirm that this title has been published for the first time in Ireland and/or abroad between 20th September 2025 and 13th September 2026 and is widely available in the Irish marketplace.

I confirm that each title listed below is a first children’s book by the artist

I confirm that I can sign up to all of the statements here in relation to each of the artists proposed
2.Publisher name
3.Contact name
4.Email address
5.Telephone number
6.Artist details (first artist)
7.Age group
8.Genre (please select as many as apply)
9.Artist biography (max 200 words)
10.Why should this artist should be selected? (max 200 words)
11.Artist details (second artist)
12.Age group
13.Genre (please select as many as apply)
14.Artist biography (max 200 words)
15.Why should this artist should be selected? (max 200 words)
16.Artist details (third artist)
17.Age group
18.Genre (please select as many as apply)
19.Artist biography (max 200 words)
20.Why should this artist should be selected? (max 200 words)
21.Artist details (fourth artist)
22.Age group
23.Genre (please select as many as apply)
24.Artist biography (max 200 words)
25.Why should this artist should be selected? (max 200 words)
26.Artist details (fifth artist)
27.Age group
28.Genre (please select as many as apply)
29.Artist biography (max 200 words)
30.Why should this artist should be selected? (max 200 words)