The POPULAR Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 have crowned this year’s favourite homegrown books, and the winners say plenty about what Singapore readers are picking up: a statesman’s memoir, Nyonya heritage fiction and a fresh crop of children’s stories. The 15th edition wrapped up on 14 November 2026 at Carlton Hotel, with close to 6,000 local readers casting more than 30,000 votes.
What Singapore readers voted for in 2026
Run by bookstore chain POPULAR, the Readers’ Choice Awards celebrate titles written and published in Singapore, and the winners are decided entirely by public vote. That makes the results a handy snapshot of local reading tastes, from memoirs to cultural storytelling to bedtime reads.
According to POPULAR, this year’s winners span inspiring life stories, cultural heritage fiction and children’s books, with the following titles singled out:
- Tommy Koh: The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man
- I Am Not Good Enough
- The Albatross File
- 《小娰惑之翠翠山》, a Nyonya heritage story in Chinese
- The ABCs of Chinese New Year
- 《乐乐和佳佳：去样宣机场》, a children’s story set at Changi Airport
Heritage, memoirs and children’s stories
The mix is telling. Professor Tommy Koh’s memoir sits alongside a Chinese-language Nyonya heritage title, while two children’s books – one on Chinese New Year traditions, the other a Changi Airport adventure – show how much appetite there is for stories that reflect everyday Singapore. For parents hunting for local titles to add to the shelf, the list is a useful starting point.
Winning authors and nominees were on hand to receive their awards in front of an audience of readers, publishers and POPULAR staff, with the evening also featuring a string quartet performance.
Where to find the winning books
The titles are available at POPULAR outlets islandwide and on POPULAR Online. If you enjoy a good browse, our guide to NLB Sit ‘n Read spots is worth a look, and you can plan the rest of your weekend with our things to do this weekend roundup.
With the year-end holidays approaching, it is also a good moment to pick up a local title as a gift – and to support the Singapore authors and publishers behind them.
