The winners of The Diverse Book Awards 2026 were unveiled at a ceremony held at Waterstones Piccadilly on 22 October.

The evening’s celebrations also saw acclaimed author Catherine Johnson awarded the 2026 Malorie Blackman Impact Award for her ‘extraordinary contribution to diversity, representation and inclusion in literature.’

Now in their seventh year, The Diverse Book Awards were set up to celebrate the year’s outstanding inclusive books across two adult and four children’s categories, including: Best Picture Book, Best Children’s Book, Best Young Adult Book and Best Non-Fiction Book, Children’s and YA.

This year’s category winners were chosen by panels of independent judges, but schools and members of the public also had a chance to have their say in the Readers’ Choice Awards. See the 2026 shortlists here.

Commenting on this year’s awards, co-founder of The Diverse Book Awards Helen Lewis said: ‘It was, as always, a very special atmosphere last night at The Diverse Book Awards party, and we love hearing from guests that this is the friendliest and most positive book prize in the UK.

‘We remain grateful to everyone who continues to make the effort to join us to celebrate the incredible books that have been longlisted, shortlisted, won the Readers’ Choice Awards, The Malorie Blackman Impact Award and of course the winners of The Diverse Book Awards 2026. It’s a pinch-me moment every year that I get to be in a room with so much incredible talent. I am so proud of The DBAs and can’t wait to read more life-changing stories next year.’

Congratulations to all this year’s winners!

Best Picture Book 2026

WINNER: Super Nani and Captain Yaz by Saira Shah, illustrated by Maria Gabriela Gama (Templar Books)

Second place: Noah’s New Home by Zeshan Akhter, illustrated by Nabila Adani (Templar Books)

Third place: The Bicycle by Patricia McCormick and Mevan Babakar, illustrated by Yas Imamura (Farshore)

 

Best Children’s Book 2026

WINNER: My Name is Samim by Fidan Meikle (Floris Books)

Second place: Runaways by E.L. Norry (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

Third place: Kofi and the Brand New Vibe by Jeffrey Boakye (Faber & Faber)

 

Best Young Adult Book 2026

WINNER: ​Love on Sight by Asli Jensen (Chicken House)

Second place: The Girl with the Red Boots by Alex Wheatle (Hodder Children’s Books)

Third place: Heartbreaker by Anika Hussain (Hot Key Books)

Best Non-Fiction Book, Children’s and YA, 2026

WINNER: We Are Your Children: A History of LGBTQ+ Activism by David Roberts (Two Hoots)

Second place: It’s a Brave Young World by Anu Adebogun, illustrated by Soofiya and Lila Cruz (Little Tiger)

Third place: The Endless Sea by Chi Thai, illustrated by Linh Dao (Walker Studio)

 

Readers’ Choice Awards 2026

Best Picture Book: The Bicycle by Patricia McCormick and Mevan Babakar, illustratead by Yas Imamura (Farshore)

Best Children’s Book: Running My Own Race by Abena Eyeson (Nosy Crow)

Best Young Adult Book: Heartbreaker by Anika Hussain (Hot Key Books)

Best Non-Fiction Books, Children’s and YA: Different Like Us! Inspiring Real-Life Stories from Kids Everywhere by Margaret Rooke (Jessica Kingsley Publishers)