Rules & Guidelines

The Indie Awards have eight categories: History & Biography, Memoir, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, SF/Fantasy, Romance, Picture Book, and Children’s Literature. Books that have been reviewed by Kirkus Indie are eligible for entry. Kirkus’ Indie editors and staff evaluate each of the nominated books to determine which ones advance to the next round of consideration, which is conducted by a judge. Books can be submitted for the Kirkus Indie Awards only after receiving a Kirkus Indie review. (You can submit your book to Kirkus’ Indie department by following these guidelines.)

Judges, who are critics, booksellers, librarians, or others, in conjunction with Kirkus editors, will evaluate eligible titles and select a list of six finalists in each category to be announced in July. Judges are chosen for their intellectual curiosity, sense of fairness, and wide knowledge of literary excellence across various genres. The winners in each category will be selected by the editors of Kirkus and announced August 27, 2026.

 

You can enter the Indie Awards here.

Have questions? Contact our awards coordinator.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What are the Kirkus Indie Awards?

The Kirkus Indie Awards celebrate the work of Indie authors. It was created to highlight excellent work and give that work a visible platform to garner the attention it deserves from readers, librarians, booksellers, agents, and editors. Submissions will be accepted March 15, 2026 to May 31, 2026. Finalists will be announced July 7, 2026 and winners August 27, 2026.

 

What are the categories of the Indie Awards?

History & Biography, Memoir, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, SF/Fantasy, Romance, Picture Book, and Children’s Literature.

 

What if my book doesn't fit into any of the categories?

If you're unsure if your book fits into any categories, please email us at indie@kirkus.com. We will be adding more categories in future years.

 

Who is eligible?

Any independently published print or ebook is eligible, provided it has been reviewed by Kirkus Indie in any year, and the review is published on www.kirkusreviews.com. Please note that the Indie Awards are only open to legal U.S. residents.

 

Do you accept digital or print submissions?

We strongly encourage digital submissions. If print is your only option, please contact our customer service team for instructions at 888.285.9394. Kindly note that all print submissions must be received by May 31, 2026 to be considered.

 

Can I submit more than one book?

Yes. Authors who have more than one qualifying book may simultaneously submit the books in the same or other category(ies). Each book must be entered separately.

 

Can I send an updated version of my manuscript for consideration?

Yes, please email your new manuscript to indie@kirkus.com. Please note that we can only update manuscripts once.

 

Can I submit YA books?

Yes, YA books can be submitted to the Children's Lit category.

 

What happens if my book is eligible and wins the award but has more than one author?

If your book has more than one creator (an author and an illustrator, for example, or more than one author), the prize will be distributed equitably among the various creators as determined by the judges and administrators of the Kirkus Indie Awards.

 

Are illustrators, photographers, and translators eligible for the Awards as well as authors?

The awards are awarded based on the excellence of the books under consideration; any type of creator (as named on a book’s title page) whose work contributes to the excellence of the winning book will be named as a recipient of the award in the appropriate category.

 

 

You can enter the Indie Awards here.

Have questions? Contact our awards coordinator.