Kirkus launched its new Indie Awards today, with independent authors invited to submit their work for the prizes created to “celebrate the excellence, breadth, and depth of independently published books.”
The awards will be given in eight categories: History & Biography, Memoir, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Romance, Picture Books, and Children’s Literature.
Winners of the Kirkus Indie Awards will receive a $500 Author Services credit, which can be applied toward select Kirkus services to support the next stage of their publishing journey, and will also be granted a $7,500 advertising credit with Kirkus.
Winners will also be invited to attend the 2026 Kirkus Prize ceremony in New York on Oct. 7. Select winners will also receive a professional agent consultation.
To be eligible for the prizes, authors’ books must have received a published Kirkus Indie review. There are no publication date restrictions on entries, and multiple category entries are allowed for single titles. The entry fee is $199 per category per book.
Nearly 4,500 books were reviewed through the Kirkus Indie program last year, a reflection of the explosive growth of self-publishing in recent years.
“We’re delighted and excited to showcase some of the best of the best in Indie,” said Chaya Schechner, president of Kirkus Indie. “We’re hoping the Indie Awards will bring well-deserved attention (and possibly a book deal or two!) to the finalists and winners.”
More information about the awards, along with a link to submit titles for the prizes, is available here. The submissions deadline is May 31.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
