Entries open for the East Anglian Book Awards 2026

Submissions are now open for the 19th annual East Anglian Book Awards, the region’s prestigious annual celebration of creative writing and publishing.

Organised in partnership with the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich UNESCO City of Literature, with supported by UEA’s Faculty of Arts & Humanities, the Awards celebrate the rich storytelling heritage of the East of England.

Authors and publishers from across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk are invited to submit their work.

The awards feature seven distinct categories, each judged by a panel of industry experts:

Biography and Memoir
Children’s Books
Debut Novels
Fiction
General Non-Fiction
History and Tradition
Poetry

Category winners will go head-to-head for the overall Book of the Year title, which carries a £1,000 prize. Shortlists will be announced in October 2026, with the winners revealed in early 2027.

Enter now

Nothing quite captures the thriving literary talent of this incredible region like the East Anglian Book Awards. As we approach our twentieth year, it becomes crystal clear that wild imaginations, rich histories and extraordinary stories are sunk deep into the bedrock of East Anglia and each year we have the wonderful privilege of discovering which gems will rise to the surface.

Ellie Reeves, Programme Officer at the National Centre for Writing

Public voting returns for the City of Literature Award

Following an overwhelming response last year, the public-voted City of Literature Award returns for its second year. Supported by Norwich UNESCO City of Literature, this special category recognises individuals or organisations making outstanding contributions to the region’s literary community through advocacy, innovative publishing, or community engagement.

The inaugural 2025 award was won by The Norfolk Reading Project, a charity that trains volunteers and pairs them with schools to support children’s reading on a one-to-one basis.

The deadline to submit your vote is 12noon on Thursday 30 July 2026.

Submit your vote

This Award is our opportunity to celebrate the people behind the books whose excellence and dedication enrich our literary lives. If last year is anything indication, we’re in for a real treat. We’d love to see everyone get involved!

Ellie Reeves, Programme Officer at the National Centre for Writing

Championing high street bookshops

Independent bookshops will remain a cornerstone of this year’s campaign. Marking the National Year of Reading 2026, the awards seek to encourage reading for pleasure by championing books ‘created in East Anglia.’

Building on the success of the 2025 awards — which saw eight regional bookshops host exclusive events with shortlisted and winning authors, including the Holt Bookshop (Norfolk), Dial Lane Books (Suffolk), The Wivenhoe Bookshop (Essex), and The Book Nook (Hertfordshire) — this year’s campaign will continue to drive footfall to the high street.

Entry requirements

To be eligible, books must:

Be published between 6 August 2025 and 5 August 2026.
Be commercially available in physical bookshops, with an ISBN.
Be set predominantly in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk or Suffolk or authored by someone living in the region.

Book submissions must be delivered to East Anglian Book Awards, National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall, 115-123 King Street, Norwich NR1 1QE.

The deadline for entries is 12noon on Thursday 30 July 2026.

Enter the awards

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