The 2026 prize is open to an English language new adult fiction title first published in print form in the UK or Ireland, between 1st March 2025 and 28th February 2026.

• Submissions are only accepted from UK publishing houses.
• Entries are limited to three per imprint.
• Books with more than one author are eligible.
• Self-published books, non-fiction, anthologies and graphic novels are not eligible.
• All books must be first format hardback or first format paperback in 2025/26. Books published in paperback that were previously published in hardback are not eligible.
• Publishers of shortlisted books agree to make a contribution of £1,890 towards the general promotion of winning and shortlisted books. For shortlisted publishers with fewer than 10 employees the contribution will be reduced to £1,300.
• If publishers enter online but do not submit a pdf or send four physical copies to The Bookseller offices, that title will be considered ineligible.
• Shortlisted publishers and authors agree to make themselves available for promotional activity in September and the New Adult Book Prize event at Cheltenham Literature Festival on 11th October 2026.
• The publisher also agrees to send 20 print copies of the shortlisted titles to The Bookseller office to be distributed to prize judges, the award’s dedicated content creator group and competition winners.

If you have any further queries, please email the prize chair Katie Fraser.