17th ICMA Worldwide Book Award

The ICMA Worldwide Book Award is an international competition for book design. It is run by the International Editorial Design & Research Forum, an independent organisation based in Germany that also organises the WOLDA logo award and the ICMA awards for magazines and editorial design. The book award reaches its seventeenth edition this year.

What makes the award distinctive is the way it looks at a book: as one complete object. The jury is looking for coherent book design, where the content and its form work together, from the cover and the typography to the paper, the illustrations and the finishing. Each category is judged against criteria that suit the kind of book it covers, so a cookbook is not judged like an art book.

Alongside categories for different types of books, there are special categories that reward individual elements, such as covers, typography and layout, illustration and print finishing. That means a book with one outstanding feature can still be recognised, even if it does not win in its main category.

Who Can Enter the ICMA Worldwide Book Award?

The award is open worldwide to publishers and to everyone involved in making books: book designers, writers, illustrators, typographers, printers and binders.

The book must have been created between 1 January 2025 and 31 October 2026. Books shown at the Frankfurt Book Fair can still be entered in the current competition.

It is particularly relevant to:

• Book designers and editorial designers
• Independent publishers and art book publishers
• Illustrators of picture books and graphic novels
• Photographers and designers of photo books
• Printers and binders with special finishes

What Can You Enter?

Main Categories

Books are entered according to their type:

• Sustainability
• Scientific books
• Educational books and textbooks
• Children's and youth books
• Graphic novels
• Guidebooks
• Cookbooks
• Art books
• Photo books
• Book series
• Corporate books
• Innovative concepts
• General literature
• Non-books
• Calendars

Special Categories

Individual elements of a book can also be entered:

• Book covers
• Typography and layout
• Illustration
• Design of cover, endpapers and paper
• Print finishing

Entry Fees

• Regular period (until 15 October 2026): €100 per book
• Late period (16 October – 6 November 2026): €120 per book, a 20% surcharge

The fee includes a personalised PDF certificate for winners.

What Do Selected Entrants Receive?

• Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in each category
• Awards of Excellence for individual achievements
• A personalised PDF certificate, included in the fee
• Optional trophies and aluminium certificates, available for an additional fee
• Publication of the winners when results are announced

Submission Requirements

Each entry has a digital part and a physical part.

Physical Copy

• One printed copy of the book, sent by post to the organisers
• The completed participation form, enclosed with the book

Digital Files

• A PDF of the title page and of representative spreads from the inside of the book
• Uploaded through the ICMA upload centre, up to 700 MB per upload

Important Rules

• Only books created between 1 January 2025 and 31 October 2026 are eligible.
• Each book entered in a category is a separate entry with its own fee.
• The jury judges the printed book, so the physical copy must arrive.
• Entries submitted after 15 October cost €120 instead of €100.

When Will Entrants Be Notified?

The jury reviews the printed books against the criteria for each category, with coherent design as the main standard. All participants receive their results by email on 15 December 2026. The winners are published, and certificates sent, on 31 January 2027.

Things to Consider

• Post early. International shipping can be slow; make sure the book arrives before judging, especially if you enter late.
• Choose categories carefully. A photo book with a remarkable binding might be entered in both its main category and print finishing.
• Pick representative spreads. The PDF should show the system of the book, not only its most dramatic pages.
• Pack the book well. The jury handles the object itself; damaged corners or covers make a poor impression.
• Check the production date. Books created before January 2025 belong to earlier editions.
• Enter by 15 October to save. The regular fee is €20 lower per book.

Enter the Competition

Interested in submitting your work?

Enter the 17th ICMA Worldwide Book Award

For the complete category list, shipping address and the participation form, visit the official ICMA Book Award website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 2, 2026