Applications are open for this award, presented by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) with the aim of honouring new public libraries.
The award is presented to a library somewhere in the world that has best managed to combine open and functional architecture with sustainable and creative IT solutions and has included both digital developments and local culture.
Each year, the IFLA/James Bennett Public Library of the Year Award shines a spotlight on newly built libraries that set new international benchmarks for accessibility, sustainability, flexibility and user experience.
The award ceremony will take place as part of the 90th IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC), taking place in Busan, Republic of Korea. The winner of the award receives $5,000.
To be eligible for the award, the library must be either newly built, be located in a building that has not previously been used as a library, or have added a significant extension that has transformed an existing library.
To qualify in 2026, the library must be built and opened between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025.
Applications close Wednesday 20th May 2026.