Introducing the 2026 Indie Author Project Annual Contest

Now with a brand-new Children’s Picture Book category!

Great news for indie authors! The Indie Author Project (IAP) Annual Contest is back for 2026, and this year, we’re thrilled to introduce a brand-new Children’s Picture Book category, expanding our mission of celebrating the very best in independent publishing. Whether you write gripping mysteries, heartfelt memoirs, immersive fantasy, or beautifully illustrated stories for young readers, this contest is your opportunity to gain recognition, reach new audiences, and connect with libraries across the U.S. and Canada.

As always, the contest is completely free to enter, and all submissions are evaluated by panels of volunteer librarians who bring deep expertise, care, and a commitment to uplifting diverse indie voices. Authors can submit their ebooks from April 1 through May 31, 2026.

2026 Genre Categories

This year, we will honor outstanding independently-published ebooks in nine genres:

  • Mystery/Thrillers
  • Romance
  • Sci-Fi
  • Fantasy
  • Historical Fiction
  • General/Contemporary Fiction
  • Memoir
  • Young Adult
  • Children’s Picture Books ✨ New this year!

Each genre will have one winner and two runners-up. Genre winners receive $2,500, and runners-up receive $500. From the pool of first-place winners, a panel of industry professionals will select the next Indie Author of the Year. Winners will be announced during Indie Author Day in November 2026.

Opportunities for Libraries & Readers

Libraries looking to celebrate their local writing communities can access a full suite of promotional materials, including press release templates and social media blurbs, to support and promote indie authors in their regions.

Book lovers working in the library industry who’d like to take a more active role can sign up to become contest judges, helping highlight the most exceptional indie literature of the year.

Introducing the Children’s Picture Book Category

A fresh new home for stories that delight our youngest readers.

This year, we’re excited to welcome beautifully crafted, illustrated picture books into the contest for the very first time. Picture books play a vital role in early literacy, emotional development, and imagination-building, and indie creators are producing some of the most original, heart-forward work in the field.

Here’s what qualifies for submission:

A Children’s Picture Book is defined as a story-driven, heavily illustrated book intended for young readers, where both text and illustrations work together to create meaning.

To qualify, submissions must meet the following criteria:

  • Target Age Range
    • 2–8 years old
      Includes board books, early picture books, and traditional picture books.
  • Length Requirements
    • 0–1,000 words
    • Recommended 24–40 pages
  • Illustration Requirements
    • Illustrations must be:
      • Original
      • Properly licensed or in the public domain
      • Artwork must be integrated into the storytelling, not purely decorative.
  • Format Requirements
    • Must be submitted as a complete, fully illustrated picture book (not a manuscript or draft).
    • PDF or EPUB formats accepted.

Who Can Submit?

To be eligible for the Picture Book category, authors must:

  • Be independently published or self-published
  • Retain rights to the work (per standard IAP guidelines)
  • Be the author and/or illustrator, or have legal rights to all creative material
  • Submit original work intended for ages 2–8
  • Submit as individuals or as co-authored / author-illustrator teams

What Makes a Strong Picture Book?

Judges will be looking for strong visual storytelling, age-appropriate and engaging narrative content, excellent read-aloud quality, seamless cohesion between text and illustration, and fresh, memorable originality with emotional resonance.

Picture Book FAQs

  • Are there other children’s categories in the contest?
    • At this time, Picture Books are the only children’s category. We may expand into early readers, chapter books, or middle grade in future years, based on interest and capacity.
  • How is the judging process for this category different?
    • Picture books are evaluated on both text and illustration, with special attention to read-aloud quality, visual storytelling, and age-appropriate pacing. Judges will have a rubric specific to this genre.
  • Can my picture book be part of a series?
    • Yes! However, please submit either the first book in the series or a title that can stand alone.

View additional FAQs for the Indie Author Project Annual Contest. 

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Enter!

The 2026 contest will be accepting submissions from April 1 – May 31 and submissions are completely free.

Learn more and submit your book(s) here: https://indieauthorproject.librariesshare.com/iap/. 

We can’t wait to discover the extraordinary stories you’ve created, whether they’re thrilling mysteries, heartfelt memoirs, interstellar adventures, or beautifully illustrated tales for young readers.

Here’s to another incredible year of indie storytelling! 🌟