Inclusive Books for Children Awards open for 2027 publisher submissions

The Inclusive Books for Children Awards are open for publisher submissions. Now in their fourth year, the awards celebrate ‘exceptional literature’ for readers aged one to nine across three categories. Winning authors and illustrators share a prize fund of £30,000 and will appear at the Hay Festival in 2027.

The IBC Awards seek out new books traditionally published in the UK from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026 in the following categories: baby and toddler books (ages 1–3), picture books (ages 3–7) and highly illustrated children’s fiction (ages 5–9).

Submissions are limited to fictional stories except in the baby and toddler category, where all early years book genres and formats are eligible. As inclusivity is at the heart of the Awards, books must also include at least one of the following forms of representation reflected in the main characters: minoritised ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence or LGBTQIA+.

This year, the eligibility criteria for submissions have been changed. Previously, hardcover books were only eligible if the paperback versions were not due to be published in paperback within a year. This rule has been dropped, and all hardbacks and paperbacks published within the stipulated timeframe are now eligible. Paperback versions of hardcover books that were ineligible in 2026 due to the old rule, will also be eligible for the 2027 Awards.

The Children’s Choice Awards, the shadowing scheme established by IBC in 2026 to complement the main book prize and support children’s reading for pleasure, will be running again this year. Children in primary schools, early years settings and homes across the UK will be invited to vote for their favourite books from the 2027 IBC Awards shortlist as part of this scheme.

Sarah Satha, co-founder of Inclusive Books for Children, said: ‘Summer is a wonderful time for IBC, as award submissions roll in and we find ourselves swimming in the very best, very latest inclusive children’s books. These books do so much, in terms of offering hope for a more cohesive and empathetic society, but also enticing new readers with the sheer brilliance of their storytelling and illustration. We can’t wait to shine a light on the judges’ picks for the fourth year in a row, and welcome more young readers to judge our Children’s Choice Awards following last year’s successful pilot.’

Find full submission guidelines and submit an entry for the IBC Awards 2027. The deadline for submissions from publishers is 23:59 on 16 September 2026.