Independent press
Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY)
Jenkins Group
In short
The Independent Publisher Book Awards, called the IPPYs, are run by Jenkins Group, a book marketing company, for independent publishers, university presses, and self-published authors. The medal is familiar to small presses, author-publishers, and the regional bookstores that stock their titles, and many medals are given each year. Authors and publishers enter online or by mail with one physical copy per category or a digital upload. The 2027 cycle takes books with 2025 to 2027 copyright dates from publishers releasing fewer than 100 titles a year.
Deadline March 4, 2027Checked September 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Every label is a fact from the official rules, never a judgment about whether the award is worth entering. How we describe awards.
The Independent Publisher Book Awards, universally called the IPPYs, are run by Jenkins Group, a Michigan book marketing company that also operates the Axiom Business Book Awards, the Living Now Book Awards, and the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards. The IPPYs are the largest of these, with national categories, regional categories by U.S. and Canadian region, and ebook categories.
The 2027 competition takes English-language books with 2025, 2026, or 2027 copyrights from independent publishers, university presses, self-publishers, and independent authors in North America, plus overseas publishers targeting English-speaking readers. "Independent" means independently owned and operated, run by a foundation or university, or formerly part of a conglomerate but now autonomous, with fewer than 100 titles a year. No ISBN is required and galleys are accepted.
Entries are filed online or by mail with one physical copy per category or a PDF upload. Fees rise across three deadlines: October 14, 2026, December 16, 2026, and the final deadline of March 4, 2027. Medalists are notified by email June 3, 2027.
Why it may matter
The IPPY medal is one of the most widely seen independent-publishing seals, familiar to small presses, author-publishers, and the regional bookstores that stock their titles. Gold, silver, and bronze are awarded in each category, so the number of medalists each year is large, and the recognition is strongest inside the independent-publishing community rather than among trade review outlets. The regional categories are useful for a book tied to a place.
2027 cycle: 2027 IPPY Awards
- Eligible publication dates
- January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027
- Early deadline
- October 14, 2026Checked September 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Final deadline
- March 4, 2027Checked September 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Deadline note
- Eligibility is by copyright year (2025, 2026, or 2027). Fees rise after October 14, 2026 and again after December 16, 2026.
- Entry fee
- $79 per category through October 14, 2026; $89 through December 16, 2026; $99 through the March 4, 2027 final deadline; $55 to add an ebook or regional categoryChecked September 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Results
- Judging begins March 18, 2027; results emailed June 3, 2027 and posted June 9, 2027; virtual ceremony July 15, 2027
| Tier | Deadline | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early-Bird 1, per category | October 14, 2026 | $79 |
| Early-Bird 2, per category | December 16, 2026 | $89 |
| Final deadline, per category | March 4, 2027 | $99 |
| Ebook or regional category added to a regular entry | See rules | $55 |
Worth knowing
Our reading, not a rule the organization published. We judge an award on the rubric in how we describe awards.
Adding an ebook or regional category to a regular entry costs $55 rather than the full category fee. The use of artificial intelligence tools is discouraged and may factor into judging. Results are sent by email on June 3, 2027 and posted publicly on June 9, 2027, with a virtual ceremony July 15, 2027.
Rules and deadlines change. We last checked this information on September 13, 2026. If you see something that needs updating, please tell us.
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