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National Jewish Book Awards
Jewish Book Council
In short
The National Jewish Book Awards, run by the Jewish Book Council, recognize English-language books of Jewish interest in more than twenty categories, for adults, teens, and children. Winner and finalist lists circulate in Jewish media and among synagogue libraries and community centers, and often lead to speaking invitations. Authors and publishers may submit, and self-published books are accepted. Check whether your publisher is entering, since it holds the stock for the 7 to 12 judges' copies; if not, you pay the handling fee and ship the copies yourself.
Deadline September 18, 2026Checked 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 National Jewish Book Awards, run by the Jewish Book Council since 1950, recognize English-language books of Jewish interest in more than twenty categories, from fiction, debut fiction, and poetry to history, Holocaust studies, scholarship, food writing, children's picture books, middle grade, and young adult. The 76th awards cover books published between January 1 and December 31, 2026.
Authors or publishers may submit, and self-published books are accepted. The book must be available in English and distributed in North America, and the author must be living at the start of the eligibility year (the Holocaust Memoir category has an exception). Entries are filed through an online platform with a handling fee per title, and physical copies go to the judges: between 7 and 12 per category depending on the category, with more for each additional category.
Winners are announced in January and celebrated at a gala in March.
Why it may matter
For books of Jewish interest, this is the award that synagogue libraries, Jewish community center programs, and the Jewish Book Council's own author network watch most closely. Finalist and winner lists circulate widely in Jewish media and often lead to speaking invitations through JBC Network events. The copy requirement is heavy compared with most programs, so factor shipping into the decision.
2026 cycle: 76th National Jewish Book Awards (2026 books)
- Eligible publication dates
- January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026
- Entries open
- June 15, 2026Checked September 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Early deadline
- August 14, 2026 (passed)Checked September 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Final deadline
- September 18, 2026Checked September 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Deadline note
- September 18, 2026 is the preferred deadline for judge consideration; all books must be received by September 25, 2026; payment due by October 30, 2026
- Entry fee
- $175 handling fee per title ($140 earlybird rate for titles submitted by August 14, 2026), plus $75 for each additional categoryChecked September 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Results
- Winners announced in January 2027; celebration in March 2027
- Notes
- Dates and fees taken from the submission platform; the NJBA landing page states only the June 15 open and September 18 close
| Tier | Deadline | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Earlybird, per new title | August 14, 2026 | $140 |
| Standard handling fee, per title | September 18, 2026 | $175 |
| Each additional category | See rules | $75 |
Worth knowing
Our reading, not a rule the organization published. We judge an award on the rubric in how we describe awards.
Two dates matter: September 18, 2026 is the preferred deadline for judges to consider a title, and September 25, 2026 is the date by which all books must be received. Payment is due by October 30, 2026. The earlybird rate ended August 14. Books published in November or December 2025 may qualify if galleys were unavailable in time for the prior cycle; ask the Jewish Book Council before entering one.
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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