VoW-REC Book Awards 2026

 

Valley of Words (VoW) ~ Shabdavali, a not-for-profit initiative of the Valley of Words Foundation Trust, will conduct its 10th edition with partner institutions across India through the year and a Signature Event in Dehradun in November 2026.

 

The Valley of Words mission to acknowledge the best of contemporary Indian literature is showcased through the VoW Book Awards in 8 categories. The Longlist of 10 books in each category is brought down to 5 Shortlisted titles by an eminent Jury composed of VBA Winners from previous years. Our Festival sessions are curated around these winning books for  English Literature, Hindi Sahitya, and writing for Young Adults and Children.

 

Nominations are invited for the VoW-REC Book Awards 2026 during the period:

 

December 15th 2025 — February 28th 2026

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
 

1. Submissions are accepted from all registered publishing houses having offices within the territorial jurisdiction of India. Additionally, the Publisher must be subject to Indian Laws. 

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2. All books which are submitted must have a registered ISBN number or equivalent indicator recognised by international book repositories. Individual nominations/self-publications are accepted provided they have a valid accompanying ISBN number. The Individual nominations/self-publications must also conform to the rules of submission, registration, short-listing, and other pertinent steps. 

 

3. There is no limitation on the number of submissions in each category. In other words, a publisher may send multiple books by different authors across categories. 

 

4. The publisher must have the consent of the author to submit the title(s) to the VoW-REC Book Awards 2026. In addition, the publisher must secure the consent of the author to participate in promotional activity, including publication of the author’s name and image, in connection with the VoW-REC Book Awards 2026, upon the request of VoW.

 

5. Nominations are accepted in the following eight categories:

English Fiction 
English Non-Fiction
Translations from Languages of India into English 
Hindi Fiction 
Hindi Non-Fiction
Translations from Languages of India into Hindi 
Writings for Young Adults – Bilingual (11-16 years)
Children’s Literature – Bilingual (5-10 years)
 

6. Eligible titles must have been published in print during the course of the previous calendar year (January 1st to December 31st, 2025). Each entry should be the author’s original work or an authorised translation into Hindi or English. 

 

7. Three (3) identical physical copies of each book must be submitted by Indian Speed Post or Courier by the Publisher / Individual Applicant after filling out the nomination form (which can be accessed at Nominate a Book – Valley of Words). The category of adjudication for the book(s) must be clearly stated.

The physical copies of the book(s) should be posted to the following address:

 

Bikram Singh

VoW Café-Studio-Library-Gallery, 

Buddha Chowk,

Sahastradhara Road,

Dehradun 248013
  UTTARAKHAND

(+91 94129 20447)

It is hereby clarified that e-copies will NOT be accepted for adjudication.

 

Only those books received till 23:59 hours on the 28th of February, 2026 will be considered. Any book received after the above-stated timeline will be deemed to not have been  submitted. However, the VoW Foundation Trust reserves the right to extend the date for filing the nomination(s). It is clarified that proof of posting a submission is not proof of receipt by the VoW Foundation Trust. The VoW Foundation Trust will not accept any responsibility for submissions that are delayed, misdirected or otherwise lost prior to receipt.

 

8. Nominated books are maintained in the VoW Café’s Library space, which is entirely open-access to all. Select books are also donated to other libraries/partner institutions in the country to ensure the widest possible reach of the nominated literature. 

 

9. Books will be received in good faith, with the presumption that plagiarism checks have been completed prior to nomination. The VoW Foundation Trust will not be liable for any issues pertaining to plagiarism or any connected issue which may come to light at any point of time, even after the Awards have been given.

 

10. The following publications are not eligible for submission:

 

Academic Books and Theses, Edited Volumes, Anthologies or Books written by more than one author, Reference Books, Text Books, 

Guide Books, AI Generated Content without disclosure as to the manner in which AI has been used in the work, Manuals, 

Reprints and Television, Radio and Film Tie- ins/Trivia      

     

11. A panel of judges, including at least one member who is independent of VoW, will select a Longlist and Shortlist from all valid entries received in accordance with the evaluation criteria. 

 

12. The Board of Governors, Valley of Words can nominate books under any category which they deem fits the criteria of VoW.

 

13.The judges’ decision for the VoW-REC Book Awards 2026 is final and binding and cannot be contested. No correspondence will be entertained by the VoW Foundation Trust from the authors or publishers in this regard.

 

14. Shortlisted entrants shall be sent notifications of their short-listing and the shortlisted titles will be posted on the VoW Website on or before 30th June 2026. 

 

15. The 8 VBA Winners from all shortlisted entries shall be announced across social media handles of VoW~Shabdavali by October 2026.

 

All winners of the VBA in 2026 will be invited to attend the Signature Event in Dehradun. The Prize and citation will be awarded to the winners in-person during VoW 2026.

 

16. VoW 2026 is envisaged as a physical event. However, the VoW Foundation Trust reserves the discretion to modify the event to a virtual/online format based on prevailing circumstances. In case the event is modified to a virtual/online format, the Shortlisted Entrants will be informed expeditiously. 

 

17. The REC-VoW Book Awards 2026 are not open to employees of VoW Foundation Trust or to the Board of Governors, or to their family members, nor to anyone else connected with the aforementioned Awards or to employees and family members of employees of REC.

 

18. It is clarified that the shortlisted entrants must comply with the terms and conditions as stated in the Letter of Shortlisting.

 

19. The VoW Foundation Trust reserves the right to alter the adjudication method/team/leadership structure for VoW 2026 as it deems fit.

 

20. The VoW Foundation Trust reserves the right to not award a prize in any category whatsoever without disclosing the reasons thereof.

 

21. Indian Laws shall govern the VoW-REC Book Awards 2026 and any dispute arising in this regard will be subject to adjudication solely before the Jurisdictional Court in Dehradun, India.

 

For further details or information, please visit our website or write in to us at celebrate@valleyofwords.org.

 

Come, join us as we celebrate the word – and beyond…