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Entry Information & Categories

2026 IPPY Book Awards

Celebrating Excellence in Independent Publishing Since 1996

The Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards honor the year’s best independently published books across over 100 categories. From fiction and memoirs to children's books, cookbooks, and regional titles, the IPPYs spotlight outstanding books that exemplify creativity, quality, and independent spirit. With such a wide range of categories, there's truly a category for every book.

Submissions for the 2026 awards are open to independent publishers, university presses, self-published authors, and independent creators across North America—as well as overseas publishers producing books for English-speaking audiences. All entries must be finished books, submitted in either print or eBook format.

Program: IPPY
Price: $79.00 per category

Entry Information

Select Categories

General
Books focusing on art such as an artist retrospective, museum/gallery exhibit, or a collection based on a theme.
Any book featuring the performing arts including stories of specific productions, autobiography/biography of a performer's life, behind the scenes perspective on an aspect of the industry.
Any book prominently featuring photographs as its subject matter.
Books featuring an architect and their career, a certain style of architecture, or the architecture of a place/time period.
A large format book with a theme of some kind (e.g.- a location, a specific subject matter, an artist or artistic movement, etc)
Plot driven fiction written for a broad audience.
Fiction centering on style, character, and theme.
Works featuring short stories, either standalone or interconnected.
Poetry published in chapbooks or regular binding.
Poetry published with art or with special binding.
Collection of writing which can include mixed art, even poetry but not solely.
Fiction written for beginning readers and middle grade.
Fiction for a teenage audience with stories set in modern or historical settings.
Fiction of for a teenage audience with fantastical elements or set in fictional realms.
Fiction for readers with fantastical elements or set in fictional realms.
Fiction featuring futuristic science plots or set in space.
Fiction featuring main characters dealing with situations specifically related to being part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Writings focused on sexual aspects of relationships, can be explicit.
Fiction set in a distinctly historical period.
Fiction set in the military or wartime, can be historical or modern day, but with a focus on the conflict.
Fiction with unsettling or supernatural elements creating fear.
Fiction with a focus on elements of a culture.
Fiction with a focus on elements of a culture for middle grade or Young Adult readers.
Mysteries without a lot of gore and/or a cozy setting.
Mysteries with fearful elements and high tension.
Fiction with a religious or spiritual theme at the core of the story.
Fiction with a romantic plot at the center of the story, can contain explicit scenes.
Fiction that is longer than a short story, but under 200 pages.
Fiction with metaphysical or mind/body/spirit themes, often featuring a journey or consciousness expanding plots.
Non-fiction about a specific crime, criminal(s), or the legal process dealing with crime.
Books featuring plots told primarily using illustrations with dialogue for older readers.
Non-fiction or Fiction with humor, including satire, as the main plot point.
Children's books written for young readers with more simplistic storytelling.
Children's books with storytelling that might be longer or more complex than stories just for young readers.
Children's books featuring activities beyond the book such as activities, music, or a QR code/website with more elements to interact with the story.
Non-fiction about any subject written for middle grade and young adult readers.
Non-fiction with a focus on elements or figures from a culture for middle grade and young adult readers.
Non-fiction with a focus on elements or figures from a culture.
A collection of short pieces on a topic or theme.
Non-fiction written using literary techniques and devices.
Personal story with a life story involving celebrity (at any level), politics, or with a focus on romantic relationship(s).
Personal story with focus on their own upbringing and/or larger family narratives in relation to their own life story.
Personal story centering on difficult life challenges or health issues/crisis.
Non-fiction about a person by a third party.
Non-fiction relating to the aging process, including end of life.
Non-fiction about animals or pets.
Non-fiction books about different aspects of business, including career advice and sales.
Any general cookbook featuring recipes, maybe with a theme.
Cookbooks produced with special packaging or with a focus on a particular health issue or cultural cuisine.
Books about issues relating to politics, the economy, or foreign affairs.
Books about social issues or humanitarian crisis.
Workbooks or manuals for educators or students or materials for teaching.
Non-fiction books with commentary about education or themes of teaching.
Non-fiction about aspects or regions of the natural world.
Non-fiction focusing on environmental issues.
Non-fiction about finance and economics.
Non-fiction about the LGBTQ+ experience.
Books that serve as gifts or to commemorate a special event or journals with a guidance aspect.
Fiction or Non-fiction about any holiday.
Evidence-based Non-fiction books about health/healthcare issues.
Non-fiction about US historical events or events outside the US with a focus on the United State's involvement.
Non-fiction about historical events from anywhere other than the United States.
Books about historical events from anytime, anywhere in the world published in an oversized format.
Non-fiction meant to inspire the reader with uplifting themes and messaging.
Non-fiction books with metaphysical themes.
Non-fiction books with advice about parenting or for parents themselves.
Books about popular culture in general or specific people or trends in popular culture.
Evidence-based or care related non-fiction exploring mental health issues.
Non-fiction books about sports, including biographies and instructional.
Books compiling information about a specific subject matter.
Books about religion in general or about specific topics in a particular religion.
Evidence-based books about scientific subject matter.
Non-fiction books with tips and instructions to improve readers' lives.
Non-fiction with advice or thoughts about personal and/or sexual relationships.
Books about modes of transportation or transportation connectors (e.g.- specific railroad lines or highways/motorways)
Non-fiction travel books featuring essays or stories relating to travel experiences.
Non-fiction travel books with details about specific travel destinations such as countries, regions, or cities.
Non-fiction about political, economic, or health issues relating specifically to women.
Books with advice or anecdotes about writing and publishing.
Any book/publishing-related website.



Book by a first time fiction author. Previously published non-fiction writers can apply.
Book by a first time fiction author writing in the Juvenille or Young Adult genre. Previously published non-fiction writers can apply.
Book by a first time non-fiction author. Previously published fiction writers can apply.
Book Series category submissions require at least two volumes, with one volume’s release date falling within the current guidelines time frame. If more than five books, the submitter can elect to send select titles rather than the entire series if they so choose. Send multiple volumes for judging but pay just one fee.
Book Series category submissions require at least two volumes, with one volume’s release date falling within the current guidelines time frame. If more than five books, the submitter can elect to send select titles rather than the entire series if they so choose. Send multiple volumes for judging but pay just one fee.
General fiction or any genre fiction audiobooks.
Audiobooks from the mystery or thriller genres.
Autobiographical or biographical audiobooks. Can be read by narrator or author.
Audiobook about any general non-fiction topic.

Regional


ON, QB, NF, NB, NS, PE, Nunavut
ON, QB, NF, NB, NS, PE, Nunavut
BC, AB, SK, MB, NW Territories, Yukon
BC, AB, SK, MB, NW Territories, Yukon


OH, MI, MN, IN, IL, WI
OH, MI, MN, IN, IL, WI
PA, WV, VA, DE, MD, DC, NJ
PA, WV, VA, DE, MD, DC, NJ
ME, VT, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY
ME, VT, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY
IA, MO, OK, KS, NE, SD, ND
IA, MO, OK, KS, NE, SD, ND
MS, LA, AR, TX, AL
MS, LA, AR, TX, AL
KY, NC, SC, GA, FL, TN
KY, NC, SC, GA, FL, TN
MT, WY, UT, CO, NM, AZ, ID, NV
MT, WY, UT, CO, NM, AZ, ID, NV
CA, OR, WA, HI, AK
CA, OR, WA, HI, AK

Ebooks
See categories 6, 7, 8, 19, 22, 26, and 84 for descriptions
Any non-fiction eBook that is regional specific
See categories 18 and 27 for descriptions
See categories 24 and 25 for descriptions
See categories 15, 16, and 21 for descriptions
Autobiographies, biographies, or narrative heavy non-fiction eBooks
eBooks that educate readers on a specific topic through factual information and research.
See categories 12, 13, 14, and 23
See categories 33, 34, and 35
Any fiction eBook that is regional specific

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