Book of the Year 2026.
Every Booky names what a book does well. Once a year we go one step further and choose a single Book of the Year, by hand, from that year’s Author Bundle winners. 2026 is the first year.
The dates
Which books are eligible
Every book that won a Booky in 2026 and has the Author Bundle by 31 December. That includes books entered at the $129 Author Bundle, and $39 Booky winners who add the Bundle afterwards. There is no separate application and no extra fee.
Already won a $39 Booky? Sign in to My Bookys and choose Add the Author Bundle — $90 on your award. That is the usual price difference, not a special offer. Along with eligibility it adds a press release written for your book, eight social graphics, a 30-second narrated audio reel and your cover with the award badge.
How the book is chosen
The shortlist is drawn from the rubric scores and judges’ reasoning already published on each eligible winner’s award page. The final choice is made by hand. It is not an automatic score cutoff, and nobody can pay for a place on the shortlist beyond being an eligible Author Bundle winner.
What the winner and shortlist receive
The Book of the Year title is added to the winning book’s permanent award page, and we announce the winner publicly. Shortlisted books are named on this page and marked as shortlisted on their own award pages.
Not entered yet?
An Author Bundle entry that wins a Booky by 31 December is eligible for Book of the Year 2026.
