THE WINNERS OF THE 2026 INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING AWARDS

The IPG is thrilled to announce winners of the 2026 Independent Publishing Awards. They are:

Publiship Independent Publisher of the Year
Magic Cat Publishing

PBShop Trade Publisher of the Year
Joffe Books

Clays Children’s Publisher of the Year
Magic Cat Publishing

Clarivate Academic, Educational and Professional Publisher of the Year
Edward Elgar Publishing

IPG Specialist Consumer Publisher of the Year
Search Press

The Bookseller Newcomer Award
Colour Your Streets

The London Book Fair International Award
Thames & Hudson

IPG Impact Award
Quarto

The Alison Morrison Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award
Sage

World of Books Sustainability Award
Thames & Hudson

Zebralution Audio Award
Bonnier Books
Nosy Crow
(joint)

PLS AI Award
Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing

Virtusales Metadata Award
Bloomsbury Publishing

The Ola Gotkowska Young Independent Publisher Award
Erin Murgatroyd, Nosy Crow

IPG Services to Independent Publishers Award
Suzanne Collier

Well done to the 12 publishers and two individuals who share the 16 Independent Publishing Awards trophies—and to the many more members who made the shortlists. They were celebrated at a very special lunch at the OXO Tower in London on Wednesday 29 April.

You can read our judges’ comments about each of the winners and all the other names on the shortlists for each category below.

Thank you to all the valued supporters of the Independent Publishing Awards, without whom they would not be possible: Publiship, Clarivate, Clays, Gardners, Link-Busters, Nosy Crow, PBShop, Publishers’ Licensing Services, The Bookseller, The London Book Fair, Virtusales Publishing Solutions, World of Books and Zebralution. We pay tribute to the two much-loved individuals for whom Awards are named: Ola Gotkowska and Alison Morrison.

We are also grateful to all the judges of the 2026 Independent Publishing Awards, who gave every single submission careful attention: Suzy Astbury, Inspired; Jess Barnfield, Zebralution; Mark Bartlett, Publiship; Graham Bell, EDItEUR; Justin Chantrey, consultant; Mark Collins, Virtusales; Eela Devani; Elise Dillsworth, Elise Dillsworth Agency; James Dunphy, Durnell Marketing; Natasha Edmonds, Clarivate; Vicky Ellis, Clays; Michelle Fadil, consultant; Nick Garrad, Akcent Media; Marzia Ghiselli, consultant; Ellie Gorton, Society of Young Publishers; Jonathan Griffin, consultant; Jonathan Harris, IPG past President; Emilie Marneur, The ETC Collective; Nichole Monteiro, Margrave Financial Consulting; Steve Potter, Book Curl; Chris Saynor, EDItEUR; Dan Shepherd, Wonderful Recruitment & Development; Caroline Summers, PBShop; Clare Symmons, The ETC Collective; Phil Turner, Virtusales; Sarah Walden, World of Books; George Walkley, consultant; Tom West, Publishers’ Licensing Services.

Here are the judges’ comments about the winners of the 2026 IPG Independent Publishing Awards.

Publiship Independent Publisher of the Year and Clays Children’s Publisher of the Year: Magic Cat Publishing
Magic Cat Publishing wins these two Awards for the second time in three years. It achieved a fifth successive year of double-digit growth thanks to high quality illustrated publishing. It thrived overseas as well as in the UK and has been making some high profile acquisitions including Jamie Oliver, Robert Macfarlane and Margaret Atwood.

Judges of the Publiship Independent Publisher of the Year Award said: “Magic Cat’s commercial performance in a difficult market is extraordinary. There’s a zing and passion around what they do. They show it’s possible to go out there and achieve great things as an independent publisher… what they are doing is utterly remarkable.”

Judges of the Clays Children’s Publisher of the Year Award said: “Magic Cat’s sales and profit numbers are amazing. Bookseller engagement and promotion are strong and the authors it’s signing show its reputation and ambition.”

Also shortlisted for the Publiship Independent Publisher of the Year were the winners of the three other Publisher of the Year categories: Edward Elgar Publishing, Joffe Books and Search Press.

Also shortlisted for the Clays Children’s Publisher of the Year were David Fickling Books, Hungry Tomato, Nosy Crow and Usborne Publishing.

PBShop Trade Publisher of the Year: Joffe Books
Joffe Books receives this Award for another year of very strong growth in the trade. It added Severn House to a string of acquisitions, marketed its books powerfully and launched a new German-language programme. Judges also liked the Joffe Books Prize, which supports authors from under-represented backgrounds. Judges said: “Joffe has an amazing growth story and a great track record with title and company buys. It’s always looking for the next opportunity.”

Also shortlisted for the PBShop Trade Publisher of the Year Award were Boldwood Books, Granta Books, Saqi Books and Swift Press.

Clarivate Academic, Educational and Professional Publisher of the Year: Edward Elgar Publishing
Edward Elgar Publishing has now won this Award four times. It celebrates its 40th anniversary after yet another record year, thanks to great commissioning and investment in systems and staff. Judges also liked an approach to lower-income countries that makes content as accessible as possible. Judges said: “Edward Elgar was strong in every area. Its volume of books is remarkable and service to customers and authors is superb.”

Also shortlisted for the Clarivate Academic, Educational and Professional Publisher of the Year were Bloomsbury Publishing, Class Publishing, Edinburgh University Press, Emerald Publishing and Liverpool University Press.

IPG Specialist Consumer Publisher of the Year: Search Press
Search Press achieved sharp growth across its specialisms in art, craft and creative lifestyle books in 2025. It ramped up international sales, diversified into innovative new formats of publishing and expanded its online courses. Judges said: “Search Press had a great year of imaginative publishing and success in new markets. It’s a family-owned business that epitomises independence and is not just a UK publisher but a global name.”

Also shortlisted for the IPG Specialist Consumer Publisher of the Year were Batsford Books and Nick Hern Books.

The Bookseller Newcomer Award: Colour Your Streets
Colour Your Streets has made an immediate impact in its niche of colouring books for local neighbourhoods. Judges applauded the passion of its team and the way it has connected communities as well as sold a lot of books in multiple channels, including direct. Judges said: “This is such clever publishing and the scalability is fantastic—you can see it appealing all over the world. It’s a really unique proposition that already has a great brand.”

Also shortlisted for The Bookseller Newcomer Award were Bedford Square Publishers, Post Wave Children’s Books, Storymix Books and The Buddyhood Publishing.

The London Book Fair International Award: Thames & Hudson
Thames & Hudson had a record-breaking year in licensing and coeditions despite global challenges in illustrated books. It set up more partnerships with big museums, galleries and brands, and grew children’s and gift books as well as adult titles. France was a standout territory. Judges said: “Full-colour was a tough market last year but Thames & Hudson excelled. It’s got a really engaged team who know exactly what their customers need.”

Also shortlisted for The London Book Fair International Award were Bloomsbury Publishing, Edinburgh University Press, Globe Law and Business, Nosy Crow and Search Press.

IPG Impact Award: Quarto
Quarto wins for the promotional campaign for Forgotten Churches by Luke Sherlock and Ioana Pioaru. It was a powerful combination of marketing and publicity with good engagement of Waterstones and independent bookshops and high returns on digital advertising spend. Judges said: “Quarto’s campaign touched all the bases. It showed strategic planning, clear goals, imaginative techniques and strong commercial results.”

Also shortlisted for the IPG Impact Award were Barefoot Books, Cambridge University Press, David Fickling Books and Walker Books.

The Alison Morrison Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: Sage
Sage has been passionate about social justice throughout its 60 years of independence, and it took its work on workforce and author representation to new levels in 2025. It has developed an exceptionally inclusive culture and makes excellent use of data to inform and measure its strategies. Judges said: “DEI is integral to all that SAGE is and does. It listens and acts with deep thought on diversity in all its aspects and is always looking for more it can do.”

Also shortlisted for the Alison Morrison Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award were Nosy Crow, Otter-Barry Books, Practical Action Publishing, SCM Press and Sweet Cherry Publishing.

World of Books Sustainability Award: Thames & Hudson
Thames & Hudson has been tackling sustainability from the top to bottom of the business. A dedicated group has taken a data-led approach to reducing carbon emissions, and has addressed printing, transport and business travel in particular. It’s ramping up socioeconomic contributions too. Judges said: “Thames & Hudson has a holistic approach to sustainability and is looking at absolutely everything. It’s going far above and beyond what it needs to do.”

Also shortlisted for The World of Books Sustainability Award were Emerald Publishing, Nosy Crow and The Buddyhood Publishing.

Zebralution Audio Award: Bonnier Books and Nosy Crow (joint)
Bonnier Books shares this Award for The Girl in the Cellar by Maryann Webb. This audiobook achieved the rare feat of outselling other formats, thanks to high-class production, an audio-forward promo campaign and great retailer engagement. Judges said: “The multi-cast, sound design and podcast elements all genuinely enhanced the format rather than decorated it. This was clearly positioned as an audio-first experience.”

Nosy Crow is the joint winner for Choose Your Own Evolution by Jules Howard. It was an innovative product that tried something bold in the tricky children’s audio sector, and has become Nosy Crow’s biggest non-fiction audiobook. Judges said: “This is a great concept and a really interesting take on the audiobook. Translating a choose-your-own-adventure format into audio is no small feat and Nosy Crow clearly put a huge amount of thought into it.”

Also shortlisted for the Zebralution Audio Award were Bloomsbury Publishing and Sweet Cherry Publishing.

PLS AI Award: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing
Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing wins the PLS AI Award for the second year in a row after more progress in AI, which is embedded across publishing workflows. Its AgNetZero platform, driven by Librios’ generative AI tools, lets users interrogate content and create their own outputs. Judges said: “Burleigh Dodds is showing the benefits of early AI adoption. It’s an excellent example of how AI can be used to make content more usable.”

Also shortlisted for the PLS AI Award were Prosperity Education and SPCK.

Virtusales Metadata Award: Bloomsbury Publishing
Bloomsbury Publishing wins this Award for the latest achievements in a long-term project to optimise metadata across its vast list. It has integrated data from a string of acquisitions, refined library discoverability and recognised metadata’s value during a change of distributor. Judges said: “Bloomsbury doesn’t just take a business-as-usual approach to metadata but is always looking for different ways of doing things. It’s enterprise-scale transformation.”

Also shortlisted for the Virtusales Metadata Award were SPCK and Walker Books.

The Ola Gotkowska Young Independent Publisher Award: Erin Murgatroyd
Erin Murgatroyd, rights director of Nosy Crow, drives one of the most successful rights teams in children’s publishing. She has been behind dramatic increases in translations and coeditions, travels the world in search of new business and manages a flourishing team. She is also Nosy Crow’s EDI Lead. Judges said: “To be a rights director of such a big business by the age of 30 is incredible. Erin is amazing.”

Also shortlisted for the Ola Gotkowska Young Independent Publisher Award were Grace Balfour-Harle, Edinburgh University Press; Elizabeth Briggs, Saqi Books; Alice Corrigan, Hungry Tomato; Elizabeth Kellingley, Bloomsbury Publishing; and Sophie Seager, David & Charles.

IPG Services to Independent Publishers Award: Suzanne Collier
Suzanne Collier supported people in publishing with a wide range of career and coaching services in 2025, including help for those made redundant, careers clinics, job clubs, podcasts and her own book, How to Job Search in Book Publishing. She also helped employers with staffing, recruitment and professional development issues. One member said: “Suzanne is a champion of the next generation of publishers and a visible figurehead for the industry.”

Also shortlisted for the IPG Services to Independent Publishers Award were Hassan Ali, Clays, Ingram Content Group, Publiship and Virtusales Publishing Solutions.