2026 Award Categories
The Manitoba Book Awards will be presenting six awards in 2026.
Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction
- Presented annually to the Manitoba writer whose English-language book of fiction is deemed the best written. This prize is generously sponsored by the Manitoba government.
- Full award details here.
Lansdowne Prize for Poetry / Prix Lansdowne de poésie
- Presented biennially to the Manitoba writer whose full-length adult book of poetry in English or French is judged the best written. This prize is generously sponsored by the Winnipeg Foundation and the Manitoba Writers’ Guild.
- Full award details here.
- Ce prix bisannuel est remis à l’auteure ou l’auteur Manitobain.e pour le recueil de poésie pour adultes publié en français ou en anglais que le jury détermine comme étant le mieux écrit. Cet prix est généreusement commandité par The Winnipeg Foundation et le Manitoba Writers’ Guild.
- Pour plus de détails sur ce prix, cliquez ici.
Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award For Non-Fiction / Prix Alexander-Kennedy-Isbister pour les études et essais
- Presented annually to the Manitoba writer whose book of nonfiction, in English or in French, is deemed best written. This prize is generously sponsored by the Manitoba government.
- Full award details here.
- Un prix littéraire annuel remis à l’auteure ou l’auteur Manitobain.e dont l’ouvrage non romanesque pour adultes publié en français ou en anglais est jugé le mieux écrit. Ce prix est généreusement commandité par le gouvernement du Manitoba.
- Pour plus de détails sur ce prix, cliquez ici.
Prix littéraire Rue-Deschambault
- Ce prix bisannuel est présenté à l’écrivain manitobain ayant publié le meilleur livre en français. Ce prix est généreusement commandité par le gouvernement du Manitoba.
- Pour plus de détails sur ce prix, cliquez ici.
Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award / Prix littéraire Carol-Shields de la ville de Winnipeg
- Presented annually to a Manitoba writer whose book, in English or in French, best evokes the special character of and contributes to the appreciation and understanding of the city of Winnipeg. This prize is generously sponsored by the Winnipeg Arts Council.
- Full award details here.
- Un prix littéraire annuel dont le livre, en anglais ou en français, évoque le mieux le caractère particulier de la ville de Winnipeg et contribue à sa mise en valeur et à sa compréhension. Ce prix est généreusement commandité par le Conseil des arts de Winnipeg.
- Pour plus de détails sur ce prix, cliquez ici.
Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book
- Presented annually to a Manitoba writer whose first professionally-published full-length English-language book is deemed the best written. This prize is generously sponsored by the Winnipeg Foundation and the Manitoba Writers’ Guild.
- Full award details here.
Important dates
Submissions for the 2026 prizes will be open on April 15, 2026.
The deadline for submissions is May 8, 2026.
Shortlists will be announced August 24, 2026.
An awards ceremony will take place September 19, 2026.
Eligibility
General Requirements:
- For the Fiction, Non-fiction, Best First Book, and Winnipeg Book awards, books published between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025 are eligible.
- For the Poetry and French-language awards, books published between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025 are eligible.
- Books may not be self-published.
- Books may not be created, edited or altered in any way using AI.
- Eligible authors must have been residents in Manitoba for one of the past two years and three of the past five years (“Residents” includes Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and Protected Persons.)
- Publishers must upload titles in PDF format; print copies may be requested and will be sent at the publisher’s expense.
- Books may be submitted for multiple awards if the eligibility requirements are met in each category.
- There is an entry fee of $50 per book per category.
- *We are not currently able to offer refunds for ineligible submissions. Please ensure that your book/author meets all eligibility requirements prior to submitting.