City of Vancouver Book Award

Deadline: May 12, 2026

Program Summary:

The City of Vancouver and the West Coast Book Prizes Society are now accepting submissions for the 2026 City of Vancouver Book Award. Authors and publishers of books published in 2025 that reflect Vancouver’s unique character, rich diversity and culture, history and residents are invited to submit entries.

The winning book can be of any genre and should demonstrate excellence in content, illustration, design, or format. It will also deepen our understanding of Vancouver, including its place on the traditional, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, and people from across the world who have imbued Vancouver’s cultural landscape with the qualities, landmarks, and stories that make our city recognizable and distinct.

The $3,000 prize is funded by our Publishing Reserve, which was established in 1977 as a permanent legacy for Vancouver writers and publishers. The award will be presented at a celebratory event in the fall.

Eligibility Criteria: 

1. The book may be fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama written for adults or children and may deal with any aspects of the city: history, geography, diverse communities, current affairs, or the arts.
2. The book may be written and/or published anywhere in the world.
3. The book must have been copyrighted in 2025.
4. Reissues of a prior edition and text books are not eligible.

Grant Amount:

$3,000

Eligible Applicants:

Authors and publishers of books published in 2025 that reflect Vancouver’s unique character, rich diversity and culture, history and residents are invited to submit entries.