This week’s post comes from the wonderful Andrew Dare, our business operations manager. In this piece, he shares about the top book awards in 2026 for nonfiction authors. Enjoy!
One of the best ways to promote your book is awards! But often authors struggle to know which awards would be the best fit for their book. The following is a working list of notable book awards along with their submission timelines.
IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards
Website: www.ibpabookaward.org/
Submission Window: 2026 entry dates to be confirmed
IPPY Awards
Website: ippyawards.com/
Status: Entries close March 26, 2026
International Impact Book Awards
Website: internationalimpactbookawards.com/book-award-categories-international-impact/
Submission Timing: Year-round
Indie Excellence Awards
Website: www.indieexcellence.com/categories
Submission Deadline: All entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2026
Nonfiction Book Awards
Website: nonfictionauthorsassociation.com/nonfiction-book-awards/
Submission Timing: Year-round
NYC Big Book Awards
Website: www.nycbigbookaward.com/submit-online
Submission Deadline: December 30, 2026
Axiom Business Book Awards
Website: axiomawards.com/
Submission Deadline: January 29, 2026
Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction)
Website: www.pulitzer.org/
Submission Deadline: January 26, 2026
*We will be updating this post regularly to provide up-to-date submission information as we continue through 2026. To stay informed, join our mailing list!
Get real advice from award-winning authors
Putting your hat (or book) into the ring is amazing and daunting at the same time. That’s why we always suggest speaking to past winners to see what they did and how they decided which awards were best suited for them.
Inside our Author Influence Circle community, you’ll find published, award-winning authors who have navigated these exact submissions. Members can ask questions, learn which awards align best with their goals, and get practical guidance that goes beyond what’s listed on an awards website.
Rather than figuring it out alone, Author Influence Circle gives you access to:
- Insight from actual award-winning authors
- Peer discussions around award strategy and positioning
- Ongoing support as you plan submissions and build your author platform
If you’re serious about maximizing the impact of your book—and want guidance from authors who’ve been there—learn more about the Author Influence Circle community here: https://stacyennis.com/authorcircle.
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