Alberta Book Publishing Awards
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About the awards
As the critical middle piece of the storytelling process, Alberta book publishers enrich and sustain the cultural and social landscape of our province. Releasing a range of quality titles each year, they bring Alberta’s Story to life and share it locally, nationally, and internationally.
Created to recognize and celebrate the best of the Alberta book publishing industry, the Alberta Book Publishing Awards have grown alongside the industry to capture the excellence and innovation of Alberta’s book publishers.
Each year, the winners of the Alberta Book Publishing awards are selected through a peer jury process in up to 16 award categories. This much-anticipated event draws industry, government, and media attention to the world-class excellence of Alberta’s publishing industry.
2026 Awards Gala
The winners of the 2026 Alberta Book Publishing Awards will be announced at a gala reception held at the Matrix Hotel in Edmonton at 6:30 PM MT on Thursday, September 17, 2026. The gala is open to the public. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased through the registration form below.
The deadline to register is Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
A special rate is available for room bookings at the Matrix Hotel made before Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Rooms can be booked via our dedicated booking link.
Get your tickets!
2026 Shortlist
Download the PDF Media Release
Douglas Barbour Award for Speculative Fiction
- EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing | The Scrolls of Bishop Eubulus, and Other Stories by Rebecca Bradley
- Freehand Books | The Longest Night by Lauren Carter
- Mythic Roads Press | The Moon the Sun Forgot by B.J. Wagner
- Renegade Arts Entertainment | The Last Band on Earth written and illustrated by Elaine M. Will
Scholarly & Academic Book of the Year
Sponsored by Alberta Counsel
- University of Alberta Press | Cartographic Poetry: Examining Historic Blackfoot and Gros Ventre Maps by Ted Binnema, François Lanoë, and Heinz W. Pyszczyk
- University of Calgary Press | Behind the Bricks: The Life and Times of the Mohawk Institute, Canada’s Longest-Running Residential School edited by Richard W. Hill Sr., Alison Norman, Thomas Peace, and Jennifer Pettit
- University of Calgary Press | The Boom: Oil, Popular Culture, and Politics in Alberta, 1912-1924 by Paul Chastko
- University of Calgary Press | Where Histories Meet: Indigenous and Settler Encounters in the Toronto Area by Victoria Freeman
Regional Book of the Year
Sponsored by Alberta Views Magazine
- NeWest Press | Cruising the Downtown: Celebrating Edmonton’s Queer History by The Edmonton Queer History Project, edited by Kristopher Wells
- University of Calgary Press | Mountain Voices: The Mountain Legacy Project and a Century of Change in Western Canada edited by Eric Higgs, Zac Robinson, Mary Sanseverino, and Kristen Walsh
Children’s & Young Adult Book of the Year
Sponsored by Marquis Books
- Durvile & UpRoute | Spirit Rider: A Lillian Indigenous Mystery by Lynda Partridge, illustrated by Dave Nicholson
- Red Barn Books | Howdy, I’m Singh Hari by Kelly Kaur, illustrated by Ravina Kaur Toor
Trade Non-Fiction Book of the Year
Sponsored by Houghton Boston Printers
- Athabasca University Press | My Works, Ye Mighty by Christian Bök
- Brush Education | The Road to Shiloh by Leander K. Lane
- Freehand Books | How to Breathe Water by Sharon Butala
- University of Alberta Press | Crossing Into Canada: Stories from Two Generations of US War Resisters edited by Alison Mountz
Robert Kroetsch Award for Poetry
- Frontenac House | Breaking Into Blossom by Anna Yin
- Frontenac House | There’s Magic Here Too: A Trans Woman’s Guide to Being Monstrous by Skylar Kay
- University of Calgary Press | Bonememory by Anna Veprinska
- University of Calgary Press | What is Broken Binds Us by Lorne Daniel
Graphic Novel of the Year
- Renegade Arts Entertainment | The Last Band on Earth written and illustrated by Elaine M. Will
- Renegade Arts Entertainment | Pass Me By: Lily by Kat Simmers and Ryan Danny Owen, illustrated by Kat Simmers
Learning Book of the Year
- Athabasca University Press | Feminist Pedagogy for Teaching Online edited by Jacquelyne Thoni Howard, Enilda Romero-Hall, Clare Daniel, Niya Bond, and Liv Newman
- Brush Education | Elements of Indigenous Style, 2nd Ed. by Gregory Younging, edited by Warren Cariou, Deanna Reder, Lorena Sekwan Fontaine, and Jordan Abel
- Brush Education | Humanitarian and Compassionate Considerations in Canadian Immigration Law by Raj Napal
- Brush Education | Reading and Writing Bush Cree: sakâw nîhiyawîwin ayamihcikîwin ikwa masinahikîwin by Connie Twin and Tanya Larissa Fontaine
Trade Fiction Book of the Year
Sponsored by Quill & Quire
- Freehand Books | Graveyard Shift at the Lemonade Stand by Tim Bowling
- NeWest Press | A Story Can Be Told About Pain by Lisa Martin
- University of Calgary Press | Rag Pickers by Blaine Newton
Book Cover Design of the Year
Sponsored by Friesens
- Athabasca University Press | My Works, Ye Mighty by Christian Bök, designed by Natalie Olsen (Kisscut Design)
- Durvile & UpRoute | Canada Unscripted: Conversations with Canadian Media Icons edited by Vic Sarin, book cover designed by Austin Andrews
- University of Alberta Press | Shelter in Text: Essays on Dwelling and Refuge edited by Myra Bloom and Kasia Van Schaik, designed by Alan Brownoff
Book Illustration of the Year
- Renegade Arts Entertainment | The Last Band on Earth written and illustrated by Elaine M. Will
- Renegade Arts Entertainment | Pass Me By: Lily by Kat Simmers and Ryan Danny Owen, illustrated by Kat Simmers
- Renegade Arts Entertainment | Modern Asian Family: Straight Outta Busan written and illustrated by Stefano Jun
Book Design of the Year
- Athabasca University Press | My Works, Ye Mighty by Christian Bök, designed by Natalie Olsen (Kisscut Design)
- Freehand Books | The Longest Night by Lauren Carter, designed by Natalie Olsen (Kisscut Design)
- NeWest Press | Cruising the Downtown: Celebrating Edmonton’s Queer History by The Edmonton Queer History Project, edited by Kristopher Wells, designed by Natalie Olsen (Kisscut Design)
- University of Alberta Press | Cartographic Poetry: Examining Historic Blackfoot and Gros Ventre Maps by Ted Binnema, François Lanoë, and Heinz W. Pyszczyk, designed by Alan Brownoff
Mystery and Thriller Book of the Year
To be announced at the 2026 Alberta Book Publishing Awards Gala
Mel Hurtig Publisher of the Year
To be announced at the 2026 Alberta Book Publishing Awards Gala
Lifetime Achievement in Alberta Publishing Awards
To be announced at the 2026 Alberta Book Publishing Awards Gala
Thank you to our Funders!
Thank you to our Gala Sponsors!
Past winners
You can find copies of previous winning and nominated titles through the following links:
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2025 Awards
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2004 Awards