IBPA+PubWest Book Design Awards
The IBPA+PubWest Book Design Awards honor exceptional book design and production quality in 23 categories, including Judges’ Choice and Diverse Voices. Established in 1985, PubWest’s Design Awards are now proudly continued by the Independent Book Publishers Association (BPA). Entrants are judged on typography, cover design, interior design, format, materials, and printing and binding quality.
Entry Period: November 15, 2025 - February 1, 2026.
Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners will be celebrated at the IBPA Publishing University opening mixer event on May 14, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in Portland, Oregon. Winning an industry book award can boost sales and invigorate publicity.
Enter by clicking below before February 1, 2026
About the IBPA+PubWest Book Award
Eligibility, Rules &
How to Enter
Award Categories
Past Winners
Judging
See below.
Eligibility, Rules & How to Enter
2025 Entry Eligibility
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Open to all publishers along with their designers, typographers, and printers.
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Books must be published or produced between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025.
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Both soft- and hard-cover books are eligible.
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Entries in the Cover categories must be submitted as a finished book (no separate/detached jackets or covers).
2025 Rules for Entry
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Each title can be entered in up to three categories.
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A separate book must be submitted for each category.
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Entry fees: IBPA members $85, nonmembers $129 per category. Cover Add-on $50.
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Deadline for entries and fees: February 1, 2026.
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All books must be received by February 15, 2026.
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Books will be judged on overall design and production quality
How to Enter
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Complete one entry form for each entry and pay online for the total number of entries.
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Ship one copy of each book for each category with the payment receipt enclosed to the IBPA office at:
IBPA+PubWest Design Award
1020 Manhattan Beach Blvd.,
Ste. 204,
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 -
Note: Submit one copy of your book for each category that the title is entered into
Please Note
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Items submitted for judging will not be returned.
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Cover categories - If you are submitting a title in another category in addition to a cover category, you can select "Cover Add-on" after submitting in the first category. If a cover category is the sole entry category, proceed with the regular fee.
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Gold winners will receive an award. All winners will receive a frameable certificate, stickers, and digital badges.
Award
Categories
1. Adult Trade Book – Illustrated
The illustrations are a primary feature of the book*, with the text playing an equal or secondary role.*Note: this category is for non-art books. Please submit books whose subject matter is art in the Art/Design or Photography categories.
2. Adult Trade Nonfiction – Non-illustrated
Examples include, but are not limited to, traditional tomes that are primarily text and are meant to be read cover to cover. If images are included, they should be limited to illustrations for chapter openers, occasional photos or artwork throughout text, and/ or special sections.
3. Adult Trade Fiction – Non-illustrated
Examples include, but are not limited to, traditional tomes that are primarily text and are meant to be read cover to cover. If images are included, they should be limited to illustrations for chapter openers, occasional photos or artwork throughout text, and/ or special sections.
4. Children's Picture Book
Books in this category are for non-readers and emergent readers, with images and art as the primary focus of the book.
5. Children's Middle Grade
A children’s book targeted to the 8-12 age group that is primarily text and may contain illustrations for chapter openers, occasional photos or artwork throughout text, and/or special sections.
6. Young Adult – Fiction & Nonfiction
Books in this category are targeted for the 12-18 age group, may contain illustrations for chapter openers, occasional photos, or artwork throughout text, and/or special sections. Note: graphic novels where the storytelling relies on imagery should be submitted in the Graphic Novel/Manga category.
7. Graphic Novel / Manga
A story told with graphics or images, much like a comic book with a number of panels on each page and text within the image panels.
8. Academic / Reference / Non-Trade
Books intended for students or for use in an academic setting, or whose purpose is to provide information in an organized manner (they may have trade appeal as well). Entries will include elements such as reference sections, footnotes, and bibliographies.
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9. Travel / Guidebooks
Examples include identification guides on a variety of topics and regions as well as field and travel guides.
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10. How-to / Crafts
Examples include books that are intended to instruct readers on different methods and techniques relative to a specific project/skill/craft such as photography, quilting, woodworking, graphic design, etc.
11. Cookbook
Entries in this category should have the intent of aiding readers in cooking or preparing food. Books can be one- to four-color and may or may not include illustrations/photography.
12. Photography
A book whose subject matter is works of photography.
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13. Art / Design
A book whose subject matter is works of art or design.
14. Body, Mind, and Wellness
These books can be instructional, informational, or motivational in relation to physical and mental health, spirituality, lifestyle, fitness, and more. There is no restriction on the ratio of photography/artwork to text.
15. Short Stories / Poetry / Anthologies
Entries in this category generally contain collections of writings by either a single author or multiple authors. Front and back matter may include contributor biographies, further readings, chronologies, and permissions.
16. Gift / Holiday / Specialty Book
Entries in this category are books that have unique subject matter, design elements, and bindery that are not standard to general trade books.
17. Kids – Special Format
Books for young people with unique subject matter, design elements, and bindery that are non-standard, e.g. board books, pop-ups, gift packs, etc.
18. Limited / Deluxe Edition
Entries in this category are special-bound or small-run volumes crafted from high-quality materials. This includes limited editions and other specialty publications intended for collectors and other targeted markets. The books in this category generally sell for high dollar and have few budget constraints.
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19. Adult Sidelines / Novelty
Entries in this category are designed non-book items. Examples include, but are not limited to: cards, stationery, bookmarks, journals, calendars, puzzles, decks, and other non-book materials typically sold in bookstores.
20. Cover – Small Format (6 x 9 inches or smaller)
Books of any genre/category with strong shelf appeal and use of design, photography, artwork, and/or typography to enhance the subject matter. Unique and appealing nonfiction, YA, and other general book entries welcomed.
21. Cover – Large Format (larger than 6 x 9 inches)
Books of any genre/category with strong shelf appeal and use of design, photography, artwork, and/or typography to enhance the subject matter.
22. Diverse Voices Design Award (add-on for any category entry)
The goal of this award is to recognize, uplift, and celebrate excellent design and publishing accomplishments by people from marginalized groups. IBPA emphasizes the value of multifaceted experiences and intersectional identities and works to ensure that all voices are respected and recognized. To encourage inclusivity and visibility, this is a free add-on to any other paid category submission at the IBPA + PubWest Book Design Awards. Please note that submissions to this award must include a significant contributor to the design and/or production of this book from one or more of the communities below.
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Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, genderqueer, intersex, asexual, non-binary, or other self-defined gender identities and/or sexual orientations.
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People with racial heritage and identity from a minority community in the United States and Canada.
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People who consider themselves neurodivergent
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People with disabilities or functional limitations
Submissions will then be judged on the quality of the publication as outlined for the rest of the awards categories.
To be considered for the Diverse Voices Design Award:
Select “yes” in the online entry form and complete the additional fields.
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A diverse panel of interdisciplinary judges will review each submission. Judges will be selected from industry professionals with book design and production expertise. Entries will be judged on format, layout, typography, jacket, materials, and production quality. Judges are presented with uniform criteria for evaluating each category.
Judges reserve the right to select the Judges’ Choice award at their sole discretion.
A pool of finalist entries for each of the categories will be determined, from which three levels of awards may be chosen (Gold, Silver, and Bronze).
Not all categories are guaranteed to have a Gold, Silver, and Bronze winner.
Publishers will be notified after completion of the final judging. Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners will be celebrated at the opening reception of IBPA Publishing University on May 14, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Portland, Oregon Convention Center.
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