The Nero Book Awards were launched in May 2023 with the aim of celebrating the craft of writing and the joy of reading.

Open to writers based in the UK and Ireland, the award has four categories:

• Children’s Fiction (for young people aged 9-15)
• Debut Fiction
• Fiction
• Non-Fiction

Panels of judges made up of authors, booksellers and journalists choose the winning title for each category, looking for the books that they would most want to recommend to friends and family for their quality and readability. From the four category winners, one book will be selected as the overall winner of the Nero Gold Prize.

Read our category winner and  shortlist announcements for the 2025 Nero Book Awards.

Timetable:

• The shortlists for the 2026 Nero Book Awards will be announced on 3rd December 2026.
• Category winners will be announced on 21st January 2027.
• The winner of the Nero Gold Prize will be announced in March 2027.

Cost: Free.

About the Nero Book Awards: The Nero Book Awards are run as a not-for-profit organisation by Caffè Nero, the independent, family-owned coffee house group, in partnership with The Booksellers Association, Brunel University London and Right to Dream.