Publishers of print and audiobooks with a copyright date of 2025 may enter the current competition. Qualifying publishers include:
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independent publishers
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hybrid publishers
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author publishers
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university presses
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association presses
PERIODS OF ENTRY
We will be opening the 39th annual awards program for books published in 2026 in July 2026.
Usually, books published between January 2025 and September 2025 are entered in the first entry period and books published between October 2025 and December 2025 are entered in the second entry period. As long as the books have a copyright date of 2025, however, they can be entered any time prior to the final December 15, 2025 deadline. All entries must be postmarked no later than December 15, 2025. This final deadline cannot be extended.
Books with a copyright date other than 2025 will not be considered without proof that the book first became available for sale in 2025.
COMMUNITY CATEGORIES
IBPA is pleased to recognize historically marginalized communities in the following categories:
- AAPI Communities
- Black/African American Communities
- Disabled Communities
- First Nations/Indigenous Communities
- Latina/o/e Communities
- LGBTQIA2+ Communities
- Neurodivergent Communities
Please note that submissions to these categories will first be judged on the book’s contributions to the respective community and must include a significant contributor (editor, primary illustrator or photographer for highly illustrated books, publisher, or author) to the project from that community. Submissions will then be judged on the quality of the publication as outlined for the rest of the awards categories.
FEES FOR ENTRY
IBPA Book Award entrants must be current members of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). To accommodate this, there are two fees for entry: