Entries are now being accepted for the 2026 Awards
We have over 80 categories for you to enter your book into for the 2026 awards year. Click on one of them to read about it below.
Categories for the 2026 Indie Book Awards
African American (Non-Fiction)
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and/or Persons of Color)
Children's Educational Picture Book (6 Years and Up)
Children's Picture Book #Ownvoices
Children's Picture Book (0-5 Years)
Children's Picture Book (Non-Fiction) (All Ages)
Children's Picture Book Illustration (Best illustrator)
Children's/Juvenile (Non-Fiction)
Children's/Juvenile Early Readers/Chapter Books (Fiction)
Cookbooks/Healthy Eating/Nutrition
Education/Academic (Non-Fiction)
First Novel (40,000 to 70,000 words)
First Novel (70,000 to 90,000 words)
First Novel (Over 90,000 words)
First Novel (Under 50,000 words)
General Fiction/Novel (70,000 to 100,000 words)
General Fiction/Novel (Over 100,000 words)
General Fiction/Novel (Under 70,000 words)
LGBTQ+ (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer+)
Memoirs (Overcoming Adversity/Tragedy)
Memoirs (Personal Struggle/Health Issues)
Parenting/Family (Non-Fiction)
Series (Fiction) Minimum three books, one must be within current year guidelines
Women's Literature (Non-Fiction)
Young Adult (Fiction) (12 Years to 16 Years)
Additional Categories
Best Cover Design (Non-Fiction)
Best Overall Design (Fiction) (Digitally Submitted for judging)
Best Overall Design (Fiction) (Print Book Submitted for judging)
Best Overall Design (Non-Fiction) (Digitally Submitted for judging)
Best Overall Design (Non-Fiction) (Print Book Submitted for judging)