Independent Press Award® Announces 2026 Winners: A Global Celebration of Independent Excellence

The Independent Press Award (IPA), one of the world’s most prestigious honors for independent authors, publishers, and illustrators, has officially unveiled its 2026 winners. The announcement marks a landmark year for the program, showcasing a diverse array of literary talent from across the globe.

In a year characterized by high-caliber submissions, the 2026 awards saw significant participation from well-established voices and publishing houses spanning North America to Asia. Winning entries hailed from countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, among others.

The 2026 winners list features a mix of veteran authors and rising stars. Notable names recognized this year include Brad Feld, Judith Briles, Tony Jeton Selimi, Michael Pronko, Jack Fritscher, PhD, Nate Regier, PhD, Lawrence Kane & Kris Wilder, Greg Broadmore, and Miriam Udel. These authors were selected by a panel of experts from a pool of thousands of entries.

The excellence of the independent sector was further highlighted by the inclusion of prestigious publishing houses such as Princeton University Press, Johns Hopkins University Press, Forbes Books, She Writes Press, and the University of California Press.

“The 2026 Independent Press Award recipients reflect the incredible momentum within the independent sector,” said Gabrielle Olczak, IPA President and Award Sponsor. “Independent voices are no longer just an alternative; they are leading the way in literary innovation. By highlighting these winners, we are celebrating a global community that refuses to be sidelined and continues to set new benchmarks for excellence.”

The winners and distinguished favorites will be officially honored at the annual Awards Dinner on April 25th. The event is part of BookCAMP 2026, a premier three-day trade show and conference for the publishing industry held in the New York metro area from April 24–26, https://www.ipabookcamp.com/tickets. 

The gala dinner has already drawn international attention, with over 200 attendees from four continents already registered. The VIP guest list includes prominent figures and newly discovered talent such as Claudia Daher; Sara Fanfarillo; Angela Greenman; Maria Ingstrom; Christopher Johnston; David Knoll; Diana Louise Webb; Laura Muirhead; Ivona Olofsson; Sieglinde C. Othmer; Michaela Riley; Paris Rosemont; Joe Sarkic; Tony Jeton Selimi; JoAnne M Spiller; Dr. Stacker; Nancy W.; and Xue Mo. A limited number of tickets remain available for those wishing to network with the industry’s top independent talent.

For those interested in viewing the full list of this year's honorees or purchasing tickets for the upcoming ceremony, please visit:

• 2026 Winners: independentpressaward.com/2026-winners

• 2026 Distinguished Favorites: independentpressaward.com/2026-favorites

• Awards Dinner Tickets: independentpressaward.com/awardsdinner

About the Independent Press Award

The Independent Press Award (IPA) honors excellence in the independent publishing community. Open to self-published authors, small presses, and university presses worldwide, the IPA celebrates the spirit of independent literary achievement every spring.

Beyond the Awards

The Independent Press Award is part of a broader ecosystem dedicated to supporting the "indie" literary world. This includes:

• The Children’s Bookworm Award: A competition specifically highlighting high-quality storytelling in the children’s sector, https://www.childrensbookwormaward.com/ 

• NYC Big Book Award: A fall competition open to all publishers, including the "Big Five." https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/ 

• The GAB TALKS: A popular podcast hosted by Gabby Olczak that provides an inside look at the creative processes of award-winning authors, covering everything from humanitarian issues to art history. https://www.independentpressaward.com/thegabtalks