Author of the Year

The Author of the Year award treads the fine line between the hard numbers of the bestseller lists and the writing excellence of the literary prizes. It seeks to reward and acknowledge authors whose books have achieved notable success and who have also contributed to the general health of the book world. The winning author should also have demonstrated either through their writing or advocacy, support for the publishing and bookselling sectors during this period, as well as other authors. A shortlist will be announced for this award, with the shortlisted authors expected to attend the ceremony.

Please submit by completing the entry information below, including the submitter’s contact details. Full criteria, including word-length, formats and supplementary material requirements can be found below.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Illustrator of the Year

The Illustrator of the Year rewards and acknowledges the illustrators whose books have achieved critical, commercial or reputational success, and who have also contributed to the general health of the book world in 2025. The winning illustrator should also have demonstrated, either through their work or advocacy, support for the publishing and bookselling sectors during this period, as well as other authors. A shortlist will be announced for this award, with the shortlisted illustrators expected to attend the ceremony.

Please submit by completing the entry information below, including the submitter’s contact details. Full criteria, including word-length, formats and supplementary material requirements can be found below.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Fiction

This category recognises novelists at the top of their game, whether two or twenty books into their career. Past shortlists have encompassed literary and commercial novels, and all must be compelling, unputdownable reads.

To win a Fiction Book of the Year Award you need a combination of three elements: the writer’s and/or the illustrator’s creative genius; brilliant publishing; and fantastic sales/charts success, including sustained sales over the year.

Please submit by completing the entry information below, including the submitter’s contact details. Full criteria, including word-length, formats and supplementary material requirements can be found below.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Crime & Thriller

This well-established category is always hard-fought, with entries from mega brand authors to debutants who made a splash and running the gamut from cosy crime to serial killer thrillers, from police procedurals to psychological suspense.

To win the Crime & Thriller Book of the Year Award you need a combination of three elements: the writer’s and/or the illustrator’s creative genius; brilliant publishing; and fantastic sales/charts success, including sustained sales over the year.

Please submit by completing the entry information below, including the submitter’s contact details. Full criteria, including word-length, formats and supplementary material requirements can be found below.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Romantic Fiction

This brand new category for 2026 celebrates love stories of every stripe, from summery romcoms to historical romances with extra bustle and from heartwarming sagas to spicy TikTok hits. Where there is overlap between different genres, the judges will make a final decision on placement.

To win a Romantic Fiction Book of the Year Award you need a combination of three elements: the writer’s and/or the illustrator’s creative genius; brilliant publishing; and fantastic sales/charts success, including sustained sales over the year.

Please submit by completing the entry information below, including the submitter’s contact details. Full criteria, including word-length, formats and supplementary material requirements can be found below.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Science Fiction & Fantasy

New for 2026, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Award recognises the huge readership and innovative publishing in this area. The judges anticipate epic fantasy and romantasy, to space opera, hard SF and dystopia, with settings past, present and, of course, future. Where there is overlap between different genres, the judges will make a final decision on placement.

To win a Science Fiction and Fantasy Book of the Year Award you need a combination of three elements: the writer’s and/or the illustrator’s creative genius; brilliant publishing; and fantastic sales/charts success, including sustained sales over the year.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Debut Fiction

This award celebrates authors at the very beginning of their careers, and shortlisted titles need phenomenal sales and/or critical acclaim, launching into the world with meticulously planned campaigns.

To win the Debut Fiction Book of the Year Award you need a combination of three elements: the writer’s and/or the illustrator’s creative genius; brilliant publishing; and fantastic sales/charts success, including sustained sales over the year.

Please submit by completing the entry information below, including the submitter’s contact details. Full criteria, including word-length, formats and supplementary material requirements can be found below.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Non-Fiction: Narrative

From powerful personal stories and memoir, to celebrated biographies and incisive current affairs, books submitted to this category should definitely have made their mark on the wider world, supported by a standout campaign.

To win the Non-fiction: Narrative Book of the Year Award you need a combination of three elements: the writer’s and/or the illustrator’s creative genius; brilliant publishing; and fantastic sales/charts success, including sustained sales over the year.

Please submit by completing the entry information below, including the submitter’s contact details. Full criteria, including word-length, formats and supplementary material requirements can be found below.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Non-Fiction: Lifestyle & Illustrated

Perhaps the category with the broadest scope, from cookery books to illustrated histories and from climate change to health and wellbeing, the judges will be seeking a winner that showcases eye-catching design as well as significant sales.

To win the Non-fiction: Lifestyle & Illustrated Book of the Year Award you need a combination of three elements: the writer’s and/or the illustrator’s creative genius; brilliant publishing; and fantastic sales/charts success, including sustained sales over the year.

Please submit by completing the entry information below, including the submitter’s contact details. Full criteria, including word-length, formats and supplementary material requirements can be found below.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Discover

The Discover award is for first publication of titles in print (and e-book) from any genre (including fiction, non-fiction and children’s), but specifically for books and authors from marginalised communities, including but not restricted to Black, Asian and minority ethnic, LGBTQ+, disabled, and working-class writers.

All publishers can submit to this award, but the intention is to showcase publications from independent publishers, small presses, and/or imprints focused on these sectors. In particular, we are looking for titles that have sold under 20,000 copies, but might benefit from the amplification this award can give.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Graphic Novel

A new category for 2026 celebrates one of the most versatile and fastest-growing sectors in publishing, which is both a pathway into books for young reluctant readers yet also pushes the boundaries of fiction like no other genre. Please note, the category encompasses books for adults and children, so children’s graphic novels should be submitted to this category.

To win the Graphic Novel Book of the Year Award you need a combination of three elements: the writer’s and/or the illustrator’s creative genius; brilliant publishing; and fantastic sales/charts success, including sustained sales over the year.

Please submit by completing the entry information below, including the submitter’s contact details. Full criteria, including word-length, formats and supplementary material requirements can be found below.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Children's Non-Fiction & Illustrated

This category combines the two previously separate children’s awards. The Children’s Non-Fiction and Illustrated Book of the Year Award celebrates the wide range in this area, from picture books to high-spec reference books. Please note there is a new Graphic Novel category, where graphic novels for children should be submitted.

To win the Children's Non-Fiction & Illustrated Book of the Year Award you need a combination of three elements: the writer’s and/or the illustrator’s creative genius; brilliant publishing; and fantastic sales/charts success, including sustained sales over the year.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Children's Fiction

Finding the next generation of readers is crucial to our industry, and this award considers all children’s fiction from first chapter books to middle-grade and YA, all published with flair for the most discerning audience of all.

To win Children's Fiction Book of the Year Award you need a combination of three elements: the writer’s and/or the illustrator’s creative genius; brilliant publishing; and fantastic sales/charts success, including sustained sales over the year.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com

Audiobook: Non-Fiction

This award recognises excellence across both storytelling and audio production, and can include both adult fiction titles and children's books. Here the award celebrates the process from text to listener, including the work of the narrator and audio production team. These awards regard sales success as imperative. For us a superbly narrated book is worthy of great praise – and receives it from regular literary prizes including at The British Audio Awards – but success, evidenced by overall sales or chart position, has to accompany its production.

For queries, please email awards@thebookseller.com