World Literary Awards

Literary Awards

Browse award recipients, categories, and yearly award lists

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580 literary awards

Langhe Ceretto Prize

Established
1991
Organizer
Ceretto family (Ceretto Aziende Vitivinicole)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literary awardFood and beverageWine and viticulture

A literary award given to books dealing with food and viticulture.

Prize: Honor accompanying the award (detailed prize money and prizes not listed in the original source)

Cundill History Prize

Established
2008
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
McGill University
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around February
Announcement Period
around October
HistoryNonfictionBook prize

Annual prize administered by McGill University for the best history book in English.

Prize: Grand prize for best history book (US$75,000); plus two Recognition of Excellence prizes of US$10,000 each.

Wolfson History Prize

Established
1972
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Wolfson Foundation
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Target
Professional
HistoryLiterary awardAcademic books

An annual British history prize (established 1972) to promote excellence in history books for general readers. Operated by the Wolfson Foundation.

Prize: Main winners receive prize money. The amount has increased in recent years, reported as £50,000 (Winner) as of 2022.

Shirley Jackson Awards

Established
2007
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Shirley Jackson Awards (Operated by: Board of Directors, awards announced at Readercon)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around July
NovelNovellaNoveletteShort StorySingle-Author CollectionEdited AnthologyBoard of Directors Award

English-language literary award honoring outstanding works in psychological suspense, horror, and dark fantasy.

Prize: Honorary recognition (trophy, etc.). No cash prize is specified in official information.

Lord Ruthven Award

Established
1989
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Lord Ruthven Assembly, a group of academic scholars specializing in texts that focus on vampires and/or the revenant figure, affiliated with the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts (IAFA)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around March
Vampire literatureHorrorAcademic researchFictionMedia/popular culture

Annual award for fiction and academic research featuring vampires.

Prize: Honorary award (specific prize money amount not publicly announced)

William E. Colby Military Writers' Award

Established
1999
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
William E. Colby Military Writers' Symposium (Norwich University)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around December
Announcement Period
around May
Military literatureHistoryInternational relationsFirst book (debut work)

Award recognizing the first work (fiction or nonfiction) on military affairs, intelligence operations, and international issues that significantly contributes to understanding.

Prize: Winners receive cash prize and recognition (cash managed by Tawani Foundation).

Pritzker Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing

Established
2007
Frequency
annual
Organizer
Pritzker Military Museum & Library（Tawani Foundation of Chicagoが後援）
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around June–July
Military literatureLifetime achievement awardAmerican literary awards

Lifetime achievement award for writing in the military field hosted by Pritzker Military Museum & Library. Selected annually, with a prize of $100,000.

Prize: Cash prize and recognition (cash prize $100,000, medallion, etc.)

W. Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction

Established
1997
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
American Library Association
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Publishing Culture and Book Culture
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around May
Military fictionAdult fictionAmerican literatureSponsored by library organizations

A literary award presented annually by the ALA for outstanding fiction set during periods when the United States was at war.

Agatha Awards

Established
1989
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Malice Domestic Ltd.
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around January
Announcement Period
around April
Best Contemporary NovelBest Historical NovelBest First NovelBest Short StoryBest Non-FictionBest Children's/Young Adult Mystery

Annual literary awards presented by Malice Domestic Ltd. honoring traditional mysteries in the style of Agatha Christie, presented each April at the Malice Domestic convention.

Prize: Honor (Agatha Award recognition / trophy or plaque), publicity and attention accompanying the award

Anthony Awards

Established
1986
Frequency
Once a year (held in conjunction with the annual Bouchercon convention)
Organizer
Bouchercon World Mystery Convention (Bouchercon)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around April
Best NovelBest First NovelBest Paperback OriginalBest Short StoryCritical / Non-fictionSpecial ServiceOther wildcard-like categoriesBest Anthology or Collection

Mystery literature award awarded by votes from participants at the annual Bouchercon convention.

Prize: Trophy and honor (primarily an honorary award). Cash prizes are generally none/unset.

Barry Award

Established
1997
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Deadly Pleasures (editors)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Newcomer
Crime fictionMysteryThrillerNovelFirst novelShort storyPaperback originalBritish crime novel

U.S. crime literature award established in 1997. Awarded once a year by the editors of Deadly Pleasures magazine.

Prize: Honorary award (certificate, trophy, etc.)

Cartier Diamond Dagger

Established
1986
Frequency
Once a year (annually)
Organizer
Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Mystery (crime/detective fiction)Lifetime achievement awardLiterature award

Honorary award in the mystery/crime fiction genre awarded by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) to honor lifetime achievements.

Prize: Honorary award (commendation) for lifetime achievement

Dagger in the Library

Established
1992
Frequency
Once a year (annual)
Organizer
Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around December
Announcement Period
around July
Mystery / Detective fictionCrime novel awardLibrary-related

An award presented annually by the UK's Crime Writers' Association (CWA) to the living author who has given the most pleasure to readers in libraries.

Prize: Honorary award (no prize money specified)

Dagger of Daggers

Established
2005
Frequency
one-time (2005)
Organizer
Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Crime fictionMysteryDetective fictionSpecial/anniversary award

One-off 2005 CWA award selecting the best-ever Gold Dagger winner.

Prize: Honorary 'best of the best' recognition among past Gold Dagger winners

Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation

Established
2006
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Crime fictionTranslationLiterary award

An annual award by the Crime Writers' Association for the best crime novel translated into English for UK publication, honoring both the author and the translator.

Prize: Ornamental Dagger trophy presented to the winning author and translator

CWA KAA Gold Dagger

Established
1955
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around July
Crime fictionMysteryDetective fictionLiterary award

The premier annual award of the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) for the best crime novel originally written in English and first published in the UK. Currently presented as the CWA KAA Gold Dagger, sponsored by Kevin Anderson Associates.

Prize: Gold Dagger (Best Crime Novel Award). In the past, prize money was provided by sponsors (e.g., £20,000 during the Duncan Lawrie sponsorship period), but currently there may be no monetary prize.

CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger

Established
2002
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around July–October
thrillercrime fictionspy fictionaction/adventure

An annual award presented by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) for the year’s outstanding thriller novel, sponsored by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.

Prize: Ian Fleming Steel Dagger (trophy / honor)

Davitt Awards

Established
2001
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Sisters in Crime Australia
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around February
Announcement Period
around August–September
Adult NovelYoung Adult NovelChildren's NovelTrue CrimeDebutReaders' ChoiceNonfictionKerry Greenwood Readers Choice Award

Annual literary award organized by Sisters in Crime Australia, targeting Australian crime novels and others by female writers. Established in 2001.

Prize: Winning in each category (primarily honorary recognition). No officially stated cash prize confirmed.

Glass Key award

Established
1992
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Crime Writers of Scandinavia (Skandinaviska Kriminalsällskapet)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Crime novelsLiterary awardCrime fiction

A literary award selected annually by Crime Writers of Scandinavia for crime novels from Nordic countries. Winners receive an actual glass key.

Prize: An actual glass key (trophy) is awarded

Hammett Prize

Established
1991
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
International Association of Crime Writers, North American Branch (IACW/NA)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Crime literatureMystery novelsCrime fictionEnglish-language works

An annual award presented by the International Association of Crime Writers, North American Branch (IACW/NA) to a U.S. or Canadian author for a book in English in the field of crime writing, with literary excellence as the sole criterion. Established in 1991.

Prize: Honorary award (honor is bestowed upon the winner). No mention of a monetary prize on official information.

Lefty Awards (Left Coast Crime)

Established
1996
Frequency
Once a year (annually)
Organizer
Left Coast Crime
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around January
Announcement Period
around February–April
Best Humorous Mystery NovelBest Historical Mystery Novel (Bill Gottfried Memorial, for books covering events before 1970)Best Mystery NovelBest Debut Mystery Novel

A group of mystery novel awards (Lefty Awards) selected by participant voting during the Left Coast Crime conference period.

Prize: Recognition (trophy/commemorative items) and honor/visibility

Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award

Established
2004
Frequency
annual
Organizer
Left Coast Crime (Lefty Awards / conference organizers)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around January
Announcement Period
around February–April
Historical mysteryMysteryCrime fictionLiterary award

Presented at Left Coast Crime to the best historical mystery novel (works covering events before 1960).

Prize: Lefty award recognition / trophy (presentation at Left Coast Crime)

Macavity Awards

Established
1987
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Mystery Readers International
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
MysteryCrime fictionBest Mystery NovelBest First Mystery (Novel)Best Mystery Nonfiction/CriticalBest Mystery Short StorySue Feder Memorial Award for Best Historical Mystery

Annual awards presented to mystery writers by Mystery Readers International.

Prize: Honorary award (trophy or commemorative recognition, etc.). No cash prize is generally set or announced.

Best Crime Novel in Swedish Translation

Established
1971
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Swedish Crime Writers' Academy (Svenska Deckarakademin)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Crime FictionTranslation awardInternational Literary Award

An international award presented by the Swedish Crime Writers' Academy (Svenska Deckarakademin) for the best crime novel translated into Swedish. Known as the Martin Beck Award from 1996 to 2009. Winners receive a golden crowbar (gyllene kofot) and a diploma.

Ned Kelly Awards

Established
1996
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Australian Crime Writers Association
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around August–September
Best First NovelBest True CrimeBest NovelBest Teenage/Young AdultReaders VoteBest Non-FictionLifetime Achievement AwardsBest International CrimeBest Debut Crime NovelBest Crime Novel

Australia's oldest and most prestigious recognition honouring published crime fiction and true crime writing, affectionately known as 'The Neds'.

Prize: Awards per category (honor and recognition). No publicly announced uniform prize amount is specified.

Shamus Award

Established
1982
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Private Eye Writers of America (PWA)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Best P. I. Hardcover NovelBest First P. I. NovelBest P. I. Paperback OriginalTHE EYE – Lifetime Achievement AwardBest P. I. Short StorySt. Martins' Press/ PWA Best First Private Eye Novel ContestFriends of PWABest P. I. Series/Characters – The HammerBest Indie P.I. Novel

Annual award by Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) honoring outstanding works in the private eye (P.I.) genre.

Prize: Recognition (honor/trophy, etc.)

Staunch Book Prize

Established
2018
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Staunch Book Prize (Founder: Bridget Lawless)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
ThrillerCrime fictionLiterary award

Literary award given to thriller novels that do not depict violence against women (established 2018).

Prize: £2,000 prize money awarded to the winner (funded by founder Bridget Lawless)

Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award

Established
2005
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Harrogate International Festivals (Harrogate Crime Writing Festival), Sponsor: Theakston's Old Peculier
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Crime novelsMystery/Detective novelsNovel awardsBritish literature awards

One of the major crime novel awards in the UK. Announced every July at the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival, winners receive prize money and an oak barrel.

Prize: The winner receives prize money and a hand-carved oak beer barrel

RITA Award

Established
1982
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Romance Writers of America (RWA)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Newcomer
Best First BookContemporary Romance (Long Contemporary Romance, Mid-Length Contemporary Romance, Short Contemporary Romance)Erotic RomanceHistorical Romance (Long Historical Romance, Short Historical Romance)Mainstream Fiction with a Central RomanceParanormal RomanceRomance NovellaRomance with Religious or Spiritual ElementsRomantic SuspenseYoung Adult Romance

An award for English-language romance novels hosted by Romance Writers of America (RWA). Established in 1982. Held as RITA until 2019, canceled in 2020, and later transitioned to the Vivian Award.

Prize: Gold statues (trophies) are awarded to winners (authors), and plaques/shields are given to the book's editors.

Romantic Novelists' Association Awards (RoNA Awards)

Established
1960
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Romantic Novelists' Association
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around November
Announcement Period
around May
Romance novelsFull-length romance (Popular Romantic Fiction)Shorter romantic novelContemporary romanceHistorical romanceRomantic comedyFantasy romantic novelDebut romantic novelRomantic thrillerRomantic sagaFestive / Holiday romanceJoan Hessayon Award for New Writers

Annual award (RoNA Awards) hosted by the UK's Romantic Novelists' Association, targeting romance novels.

Prize: Award title, trophy or honorific, book promotion, etc. (varies by year and category; no consistent cash prize amount published)