Updated July 13, 2026
Your guide to some of the most prestigious and indie-friendly opportunities this year and next.
For self-published authors, book awards and contests offer recognition, credibility, and new readers. Winning or being a finalist can boost sales, attract media, and open new opportunities. While self-published books were once excluded from such competitions, the industry now offers many more opportunities.
We've gathered a list of some of the book awards and contests for 2026 that are open to indie authors. They're noted below in order of their deadlines for entry.
Please be sure to read the eligibility, rules, and guidelines for each award before submitting your work. Many of the awards have specifications for submissions related to date published, formats, genre, etc. Additionally, a majority of them require an entry fee upon submission. (However, a number of them offer a discounted "Early Bird" entry fee.)
We'll start with a couple of awards that have deadlines throughout the year…
Chanticleer International Book Awards
The CIBAs celebrate outstanding storytelling in a variety of genres, including mystery and fantasy. This esteemed award offers authors marketing assistance, promotional opportunities, and industry recognition, enhancing their presence in competitive literary markets.
- Deadline: Varies by category (throughout 2026)
- Categories: Open to fiction and nonfiction authors globally in 20+ categories
- Prizes: $1,000 for one lucky Overall Grand Prize Winner; winners receive ribbons, badges, and cash awards along with a powerful promotional boost
- For More Info: Chanticleer Reviews
The International Impact Book Awards
These awards welcome independent authors and publishers from around the globe to participate. Both fiction and nonfiction entries are welcome.
- Deadline: Entry deadline for the 2026 International Impact Book Awards is year-round; you can submit your entry at any time throughout the year.
- Categories: Awards offered in 30 diverse categories in fiction and nonfiction; submit your book to as many categories as you see fit.
- Prizes: A digital award seal, a commemorative digital certificate, and year-long recognition and promotion through their network
- For More Info: The International Impact Book Award
The Literary Titan Book Awards
Literary Titan focuses on recognizing high-quality fiction and nonfiction, regardless of whether the book is traditionally or independently published. Awards are given based on individual merit through their review service. Each month, they recognize books and authors that stand out for their strong narrative craft and engaging concepts. They look for unique writing styles, well-constructed worlds, complex characters, and innovative ideas.
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Deadline: Award recipients announced every month
- Categories: Any genre can enter
- Prizes: Award stickers and custom certificates for award recipients
- For More Info: Literary Titan Book Awards
Deadline: June
The Flash 500 Flash Fiction Contest
A quarterly, open-themed flash fiction competition where the prize money truly reflects the skill required to encapsulate an entire story in just 500 words. Only manuscripts which are within the 500-word limit will be accepted.
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Deadlines: June 30 - September 30 - and December 31
- Categories: All themes
- Prizes: First prize: £300, Second prize: £200, Third Prize: £100
- For More Info: Flash 500 Flash Fiction Contest
Deadline: July
The DWRI Romance Book Literary Contest
This 2026 Diverse Writers and Readers International contest is open to all authors who have written and published a romance book within the prior year of submission. Focuses on criteria like plot, grammar, and character development. The author with the most points will win the DWRI Literary Award.
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Deadline: July 20
- Categories: All romance subgenres
- Prize: The DWRI Literary Award
- For More Info: The DWRI Romance Book Literary Contest
The Emma Romance Book Awards
The Emma Awards, described as DWRI's premier awards, specifically focus on celebrating multicultural excellence in romance and women's fiction. They are open to authors of color, age 18 or older, who first published a novel or novella between January 1 and December 31, 2025, featuring at least one multicultural protagonist.
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Deadline: July 20
- Categories: Multiple romance subgenres—including interracial romance, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, and more
- Prize: The author who takes home the Book of the Year Award also gets a $250 cash prize.
- For More Info: The Emma Romance Book Awards
Deadline: August
Best Indie Book Awards®
Best Indie Book Award® (or BIBA®) is an international literary contest recognizing outstanding achievements by indie authors. Entries are limited to independently (indie) published books, including those from small presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors. Books must be in English and currently available to the public.
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Deadline: August 1
- Categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Children’s
- Prize: The minimum cash prize for each category is $500.
- For More Info: Best Indie Book Awards
The 2026 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition (Australia)
This annual competition run by Hawkeye Publishing invites writers to craft an original short story of up to 1,000 words, with cash prizes, publication in an anthology, and the chance to be recognised for strong storytelling and emotional impact. They're looking for stories with powerful beginnings, rising tension, and a climax that resonates, to the theme of "I'm Glad You Called." Before you enter the competition, they strongly suggest you check out their previous years' winning entries.
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Deadline: August 7, 2026
- Categories: Theme of "I'm Glad You Called"
- Prize: A ticket to the Children and Young Adult (CYA) Conference for 2026 (valued at $410), $200 Cash Prize. Anthology cover based on the winner’s story.
- For More Info: The 2026 Sydney Hammon Memorial Short Story Competition
Scarlet Stiletto Awards 2026 (Australia)
If you love writing crime fiction with strong female characters, the Scarlet Stiletto Awards 2026 offer one of Australia’s most exciting opportunities to showcase your storytelling. Run by Sisters in Crime Australia, this long-running competition celebrates original short crime and mystery fiction written by women, with a wide range of categories, cash prizes, and publication opportunities for standout entries. Maximum 2 entries per person.
Deadline: August 31, 2026
Categories: A wide range of categories, including Body in the Library, Cross-genre, Great Film Idea, Most Satisfying Retribution, Forensic Clue, and others.
Prize: $2,000, sponsored by Swinburne University of Technology, plus the coveted stiletto trophy; second and third prizes will also be awarded
For More Info: Scarlet Stiletto Awards
Deadline: September
SFWP Literary Awards
The SFWP Literary Awards recognize outstanding poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction by unpublished and published writers. The contest is judged by prominent authors. Unpublished work, self-published work, and work from small or micro-presses that has not received marketing support will be eligible.
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Deadline: September 15
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Categories: See website for more details
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Prizes: Grand Prize is $1,500; two runners-up receive $500 each. A competitive publishing contract will be offered.
- For More Info: Santa Fe Writers Project Awards
Reader Views Literary Awards
These awards honor excellence in independent publishing. The program recognizes authors who self-publish or publish through small presses, hybrids, or university presses. Today, the awards operate in two seasonal tracks for Fiction and Nonfiction, spotlighting impactful indie books across all genres and topics, and celebrating both new and established voices within the literary community.
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Deadline (Fiction): September 30, 2026
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Deadline (Nonfiction): March 31, 2027
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Prizes: All entries are eligible for recognition, including finalist, winner, and grand prize designations based on merit and final scores.
- For More Info: Reader Views Literary Awards
The 2027 Peter Porter Poetry Prize (Australia)
Run by Australian Book Review, the prize celebrates outstanding contemporary poetry and invites writers to submit a single poem for the chance to win a share of a cash prize pool and gain recognition through one of Australia’s most respected literary publications. The prize will be judged by Mindy Gill, Nam Le, and Felicity Plunkett. The shortlisted poems will appear in the January-February 2027 issue. No age limit. All poems must be written in English.
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Deadline: October 14, 2026
- Categories: Must be an original and unpublished single-authored poem of not more than 60 lines.
- Prizes: First Prize = AU$6,000; Four other shortlisted poets = AU$1,000
- For More Info: The 2027 Peter Porter Poetry Prize
The Flash 500 Novel Opening & Synopsis Competition
Published, self-published and unpublished novelists are invited to enter this annual competition looking for a novel opening up to 3,000 words, plus a synopsis of the story (max 750 words) to be submitted together in a single file. The contest is open to all novelists, provided the work is unpublished.
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Deadline: October 31
- Categories: All genres
- Prizes: First prize: £500, Second prize: £200
- For More Info: Flash 500 Novels
Deadline: November
Evil Twin Manuscript Initiative
The Black List and Zando have announced the Evil Twin Manuscript Initiative, a new partnership to identify an unpublished or self-published horror novel to enter into a publishing deal with Zando imprint Evil Twin.
Zando is looking for upmarket supernatural, gothic, psychological, or any horror sub-genre that may intersect with thriller, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. Submitted manuscripts must not be under contract elsewhere.
- Deadline: November 20
- Categories: Manuscripts should elevate familiar themes, such as love, adventure, guilt, desire, betrayal, family, identity, and obsession among others — while exploring fresh, compelling perspectives.
- Prizes: A $25,000 publishing deal with Zando imprint Evil Twin
- For More Info: Evil Twin Manuscript Initiative
Deadline: December
The Hawkeye Manuscript Development Prize
Emerging writers now have an exciting opportunity to take their manuscript to the next level with the Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize, a competition designed to discover and develop new commercial fiction and non-fiction voices. Offering not just prize recognition to writers worldwide, but also professional editorial support and the possibility of publication, the prize provides a rare pathway from finished manuscript to a potential publishing contract with Hawkeye Publishing.
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Deadline: December 1, 2026
- Categories: Authors of commercial Adult, YA, Middle-Grade, Picture Book and Non-Fiction written in English can apply.
- Two Prize Categories: The Hawkeye Prize Open Category and The Hawkeye Prize – Own Voices Category
- Prizes: Winners receive a trade publishing contract with Hawkeye (terms and conditions apply) plus an editing package valued at $3,500. Additionally, all manuscripts longlisted and shortlisted are announced on the website and in their newsletter.
- For More Info: The Hawkeye Manuscript Development Prize
2027 Deadlines
FEBRUARY
The Flash 500 Short Stories Competition
This is an open-themed competition, looking for stories ranging between 1,000 and 3,000 words, with strong characters, a well-crafted plot, and realistic dialogue (where used).
- Deadline: February 2027
- Categories: All genres, including those written by or for children; adult material is also acceptable providing the content fits the story and isn't gratuitous.
- Prizes: First prize: £500, Second prize: £200, Third Prize: £100
- For More Info: Flash 500 Short Stories Competition
Tips for Entering Book Awards Successfully
- Read the guidelines carefully: Each contest has specific requirements regarding eligibility, format, submission deadlines, and entry fees.
- Choose the right category: Picking the best-fitting genre category for your book increases your chances of winning.
- Determine what the judges are looking for: Do your research and find out what the award judges are seeking. This could possibly help your submission stand out among others.
- Submit a professionally edited book: Judges value high-quality writing and presentation.
- Leverage your nomination or win: Even if you don’t win, being a finalist is an excellent marketing tool. Mention it in your author bio, website, and social media.
Winning or placing in a book contest can significantly enhance your credibility as an indie author. With so many opportunities available, there’s no reason not to submit your book and possibly gain some well-deserved recognition.
