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IBC Awards 2027

The Prize

Free to enter and with a total prize fund of £30,000, the IBC Awards celebrate the talent behind the best new inclusive children’s books published each year in the UK. 

We accept new books traditionally published in the UK from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026 in the following categories: 

  • Baby and toddler books (1–3)
  • Picture books (3–7) 
  • Highly illustrated children’s fiction (5–9)

A £10,000 prize will be shared between the winning author and illustrator in each category.

Submissions open on Friday 7 August 2026 at 00:01 and close on Thursday 17 September 2026 at 23:59 (BST).

What we’re looking for

Submissions are limited to fictional stories except in the Baby and toddler books category (see Terms and conditions).

Submissions update: hardbacks are now eligible if a paperback version is scheduled for publication within the year (see Terms and conditions).

Books must also be naturally inclusive, including AT LEAST ONE of the following forms of representation at a human main-character level:

  • Ethnic minority
  • Disabled
  • Neurodivergence 
  • LGBTQIA+ 

Judges will also consider whether books offer any of the following:

  • An Own Voice perspective (ie books by authors/illustrators who share the same cultural, ethnic or other identities as the characters they’ve created)
  • A challenge to gender stereotypes
  • Representation of diverse family structures (eg single-­­­­­­­parent, blended or same-sex parent families)
  • A diverse cast of characters beyond the main character

For more information on the above rule change for hardbacks, general eligibility and how to submit, read our updated Terms and conditions. 

Timeline

  • Submissions open: 7 August 2026 
  • Submissions close: 17 September 2026
  • Longlist announced: November 2026
  • Shortlist announced: January 2027
  • Winners announced: February 2027

IBC award winners

Children’s Choice Awards

If you are a school teacher, librarian, parent or caregiver interested in taking part in our Children’s Choice Awards shadowing scheme, click here.

Watch the IBC Awards 2026!

Want to find out who won last year’s IBC Awards?

Watch the Awards ceremony, which took place at London’s iconic Southbank Centre on Wednesday 25 February 2026, hosted by Jeffrey Boakye.

We celebrated the exceptional authors, illustrators and publishers leading the way in inclusive children’s publishing.

We also honoured the winners of our new Children’s Choice Award, chosen by children across the country.

Watch now!