Vermont Humanities is proud to present the Vermont Book Awards, an annual celebration of outstanding literature by Vermont authors, supported by Vermont Department of Libraries and many community sponsors. Established in 2014 by Vermont College of Fine Arts, the Vermont Book Awards are literary prizes that honor work of outstanding literary merit by Vermont authors and celebrate the long tradition of literature in the state.
Nominate a book for the 2026 Vermont Book Awards
WHO ARE THIS YEAR’S FINALISTS AND WINNERS?
Congratulations to the 2026 finalists and winners! (for books published in 2025) They are listed here.
WHICH BOOKS ARE ELIGIBLE?
To be eligible for the award, a book must be written by a Vermont writer and published between January 1 and December 31 of the year prior to the award. A “Vermont writer” is a writer who lives in Vermont for more than half the year. Self-published books are not eligible, nor are anthologies containing work written by multiple authors.
WHO NOMINATES BOOKS?
- Independent Booksellers of Vermont
- Vermont librarians
- Publishers
- Readers like you!
Please nominate books in one of four categories: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Children’s Literature, and Poetry. Graphic literature should be entered into the appropriate category; for example, a graphic memoir should be entered as Creative Nonfiction.
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR NOMINATING BOOKS?
Nominations for books published in the current calendar year open every summer. Nominations remain open until December 31st.
Nominate a book for the 2026 Vermont Book Awards
WHO ARE THE JUDGES?
Each year, the Vermont Book Awards leadership team selects a panel of judges made up of Vermont writers, booksellers, librarians, educators, and other passionate supporters of literature in Vermont.
HOW ARE THE FINALISTS AND THE WINNERS CHOSEN?
The rotating judging panel will read the nominated books and select finalists from each category before deciding on winners. The winners are revealed at a spring celebration. Nominated books are read by a team of judges looking for literary excellence as they pick finalists and then choose winners in each of four categories: poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and children’s literature.
WHAT DO THE WINNERS RECEIVE?
The winners of the Vermont Book Awards receive a prize of $1,000 and an art object trophy crafted by a Vermont Artist. Art is commissioned each year thanks to a gift from the Vermont Arts Council.
We’re grateful to the 2026 underwriters who made this year’s prize possible:
Phoenix Books
(lead underwriter)
Suzan Z. Ritz
Greenway Institute
Montpelier Performing Arts Hub
Vermont Arts Council
Norwich Bookstore
(Sponsor of the Vermont Book Award in Poetry)
Our sincere thanks to the following Vermont libraries who shared courier service support and coordination for the Vermont Book Awards this year: Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, Brownell Library in Essex Junction, Cutler Memorial Library in Plainfield, Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, Hartland Public Library, Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury, and John McCullough Free Library in North Bennington
