Pyridinium-grafted-cellulose nanocrystals were prepared by a simple one-pot reaction using 4-(1-bromoethyl/bromomethyl)benzoic acid, pyridine and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The grafting consists of an esterification reaction between 4-(1-bromoethyl/bromomethyl)benzoic acid and CNCs and a nucleophilic attack on the C–Br bond of 4-(1-bromoethyl/bromomethyl)benzoic acid by pyridine. This reaction simplifies existing cationization methods, which leads to a higher grafting density while retaining the CNC crystallinity.