Book awards and prizes

The leading literary award in the UK.

Curated by bookshops and chosen by readers. 

Books for sharing with young children.

The most promising book for seven year-olds and upwards by a first time novelist.

Awards for Adult Fiction, Children's Fiction Book of the Year and Children's Non-fiction & Illustrated Book of the Year.

Recognising outstanding reading experiences created through illustration. 

Recognising outstanding experiences created through writing.

Our own book award celebrating the best of children's fiction and non-fiction published in the UK.

Outstanding poetry for children.

The UK & Ireland's first comedy literary prize dedicated to celebrating witty women's writing.

Awarded for the best published literary work in the English language, written by an author aged 39 or under.

Graphic novels and manga.

Split into four categories: Books for Younger Children, Books for Younger Readers, Books for Confident Readers and Books for Older Readers.

HA annual awards for best historical fiction for young people.

Celebrating the talent behind the best new inclusive children’s books published in the UK. 

Best information book.

The world's most influential award for translated fiction, awarded annually, and recognising the importance of translators.

Celebrating books by writers of colour in the UK and Ireland. 

Debut picture books.

The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards.

Celebrating outstanding writing by great authors living in the UK and Ireland.

Oscar’s Book Prize is an annual prize for the best under-fives book of the year, awarded to authors and illustrators.

The UK’s only dedicated awards for LGBTQ+ literature. 

Science books for under 14's.

Celebrating the UK and Ireland’s favourite graphic novels.

The Sports Book Awards in association with The Sunday Times.

The annual Arthur C. Clarke Award is given for the best science fiction novel first published in the United Kingdom during the previous year.

Celebrating the best non-fiction by authors of any nationality.

The world-famous Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Daggers are the oldest awards in the genre, and have been synonymous with quality crime writing for over half a century.

Highlighting the best of the diverse voices published in the UK. 

Prestigious science fiction and fantasy award, voted for by the fans.

Celebrates children’s fiction which challenges stereotypes, promotes social justice and advocates for a more peaceful and fairer world. 

The UK’s most prestigious prizes for political writing. 

This annual prize, generously funded by Nicholas Allan, author of The Queen’s Knickers, is awarded to an outstanding children’s original illustrated book for ages 0-7.

Recognising the best and most promising literary voices of the year.

Showcases the growing genre of nature-writing in adult and children's publishing.

Rewards exceptional novels set in the past.

Showcasing top children's books across nine categories, The Week Junior Book Awards aim to inspire children to read for pleasure.

Rewards the best historical writing produced in the UK.

The best books for sharing in classrooms.

An annual prize celebrating outstanding literary talent from Wales.

Waterstones Book of the Year is recognised by readers as a highlight of the calendar and a benchmark of high-quality publishing.

Categories include Illustrated Books, Books For Younger Readers and Books For Older Readers.

An award for exceptional first novels, voted for by Waterstones booksellers. 

The Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize is an international prize that supports and celebrates the best adventure writing today. 

The William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award is the longest established literary sports-writing prize and rewards excellence in this field.

Best full length novel by a woman.

Celebrating exceptional narrative non-fiction by women.

Best young adult book.