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Saskatchewan Book Awards Announces 2026 Shortlist Regina & Saskatoon, SK — March 6, 2026
- Details
The Saskatchewan Book Awards’ 2026 Shortlist Announcement, held over the noon hour on Friday, March 6, 2026, at both the Regina Public Library and Saskatoon Public Library, drew a diverse audience to the first major event of the 2026 book award season.
In Regina, Ev Bishop, Writer in Residence at the Regina Public Library and Master of Ceremonies, welcomed authors, publishers, and supporters of the literary community who gathered in anticipation of the announcement. In Saskatoon, Jack Walton, Chair of the Saskatchewan Book Awards, served as the event’s MC.
This year, forty‑five books—representing the very best of Saskatchewan’s writing and publishing community—were shortlisted from eighty-eight books entered across thirteen award categories. Each award carries a $2,000 prize, except for Book of the Year, which offers a $3,000 prize. All awards will be presented by their respective sponsors at the annual awards ceremony in May.
“The Book Awards are not just about prizes,” said Donna Woloshyn. “We are about providing a space for Saskatchewan authors—and especially new and emerging voices—along with their publishers, to be honoured and promoted.”
Founded in 1993, the Saskatchewan Book Awards is the only provincially focused book awards program in Saskatchewan. It serves as an ambassador for the province’s vibrant literary community and has earned national recognition for celebrating excellence in writing. The thirteen award categories offered this year are diverse, reflective of Saskatchewan’s literary output, and responsive to emerging areas of interest. Award winners are selected through a rigorous adjudication process involving 39 jurors from across Canada.
The 33rd Saskatchewan Book Awards Gala and Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 1st, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre in Regina. Tickets are $80 and available online at www.bookawards.sk.ca.
Editors and News Directors: click below for the shortlist.
Click here for Saskatchewan Book Awards’ 2026 Shortlist
For more information, please visit bookawards.sk.ca or contact:
Donna Woloshyn, Executive Director
Office: 306 569-1585
Cell: 306 530-0640
2026 SBA Call for Entries/Submissions Now Open September 2, 2025!
- Details
The Saskatchewan Book Awards (SBA) invites submissions for the 2026 award season. Online submissions open Tuesday, September 2, 2025, and the deadline to apply is Friday, November 7, 2025, at 5:00 PM (CST).
2026 Award Categories
Pending sponsorship, the following 13 awards will be offered:
- Book of the Year
- Fiction
- Non-Fiction
- Poetry
- Scholarly Writing
- First Book
- Children’s Literature *
- City of Regina Book
- City of Saskatoon Book
- Indigenous Peoples Writing
- Indigenous Peoples Publishing
- Publishing in Education
- Publishing
*Note: The Children’s Literature Award has a two-year eligibility window for books published between November 1st, 2023 and October 31st, 2025.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for adjudication, entries must meet SBA’s general and category-specific eligibility criteria. Publishers and authors may submit multiple entries, provided each meets the requirements of the category entered.
Except for the Children’s Literature Award, all books must:
- Be published between November 1, 2024, and October 31, 2025
- Meet all general and category-specific eligibility criteria
- Be registered online at www.bookawards.sk.ca by November 7, 2025
- Have entry fees paid by November 7, 2025
- Be received at the SBA office by 5:00 PM on November 7, 2025, or be postmarked no later than November 7, 2025
Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted without prior approval from the SBA Executive Director. Submissions received after November 14, 2025, may incur a late fee of $40 per entry, in addition to the standard $60 entry fee (total: $100 per late entry).
All eligible titles shortlisted as finalists for 2026 Book Awards will be announced at SBA’s annual Shortlist Announcement in March 2026.
Shortlisted authors and winners of the 2026 Book Awards will be honoured at the annual SBA Gala and Award Ceremony in Regina, Saskatchewan on May 1st, 2026. A targeted media campaign and reading events leading up to and following the Awards Ceremony will further promote shortlisted and winning titles. Prize money, pending sponsorship, and a certificate will be offered at the Award Ceremony. Prizes for each award are $2,000, except for Book of the Year, which offers a $3,000 prize.
Questions?
If you have questions about eligibility or the submission process, please contact the SBA office:
📞 306-569-1585
📧
For a more detailed description of the SBA 2026 Call for Entries And General Submission Guidelines, click on: 
Entry Guidelines
Saskatchewan Book Awards 2025 Award Recipients Announced
- Details
The 32nd annual awards were presented to 175 enthusiastic literary fans and supporters at Saskatoon’s TCU Place on Friday, May 9th. Fourteen awards were presented at the Gala event including the Le Prix du livre Français celebrating francophone writing in Saskatchewan.
