Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Passport 2026

Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Literary Calendar is once again proud to publish its pocket-sized Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Passport—offering readers a fun way to visit bookstores and win discounts and prizes. Our annual Bookstore Passport celebrates both Independent Bookstore Day (this year taking place on April 25, 2026) and our metropolitan area’s bounty of great community-based bookstores!

Illustrated by local artist Kevin Cannon, the Passport is FREE to pick up at any participating store between Wednesday, April 22, 2026 and Sunday, April 26, 2026. During these five days, travel to as many of them as you can, because you can get your Passport stamped at each store you visit during that time span. Each stamped page becomes a future discount coupon for that store, and getting multiple stamps makes you eligible to win great prizes!

Share your bookstore journey on social media and tag us (@raintaxireview) on Instagram, Facebook, or X.

How It Works

Between Wednesday, April 22 and Sunday, April 26, visit any participating bookstore and get that store’s page stamped—each stamped page becomes a future discount coupon. Any number of stamps allows you to enter our drawing for a Twin Cities booklover’s gift package—stay tuned for details! Collecting ten or more can earn you even more perks:

10+ stamps

Activate all coupons!

Get your Passport stamped at 10 or more bookstores by Sunday, April 26, and ask the 10th bookstore to stamp the special page in the back to activate ALL the bookstore coupons—you’ll have savings for months to come!

20+ stamps

Enter to win prizes!

Get your Passport stamped at 20 or more bookstores by Sunday, April 26, and ask the 20th bookstore to stamp the special page in the back. Then follow the instructions below to enter the prize drawings!

30+ stamps

Enter to win the Grand Prize!

Get your Passport stamped at 30 or more bookstores by Sunday, April 26, and ask the 30th bookstore to stamp the special page in the back. Then follow the instructions below to enter the GRAND PRIZE drawings!

Prizes

At Rain Taxi we love readers who push themselves—so we want to reward you for doing it! Reaching our challenge goal of 20+ stamps allows you to enter our Bookstore Hero prize drawings — at least a dozen winners will receive a pair of bookstore gift cards and some cool literary swag! Intrepid travelers who obtain 30+ stamps will be entered into Grand Prize drawings, in which five lucky winners will get the above PLUS the following items from our sponsors:

Button Poetry

Calumet Editions

Graywolf Press

Libro.fm

MN Historical Society Press

Publish Her

University of MN Press

University of St. Thomas

Verso Press

How to Enter

If you have obtained 1-19 stamps, stay tuned for drawing entry details. If you have obtained 20+ stamps, email a picture of the challenge stamps page to calendar [at] raintaxi [dot] com (include your name and city of residence in the message) by end of day on Monday, April 27, or tear it out and mail on Monday, April 27, to Rain Taxi, PO Box 3840, Minneapolis, MN 55403 with your email address and name included. Winners will be notified by email on Friday, May 1.

Participating Bookstores

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 • 5-7pm
56 Brewing
3055 Columbia Avenue NE, Minneapolis

Celebrate your bookstore journey at this casual gathering and meet other intrepid readers! Enjoy craft beverages, food truck treats, and listen to short readings by area writers. Bring your Passport along and present it to take a spin on our prize wheel!

Free to attend, but please RSVP!

Passport Sponsors

This year’s Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Passport wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of these sponsors. Visit their websites to learn more about their publications and work in the literary community!