JOFFE BOOKS PRIZE 2026

THE JOFFE BOOKS PRIZE 2026 — ONE THE ONE OF THE UK’S BIGGEST WRITING PRIZES — OPENS SEARCH FOR THE NEXT BESTSELLING CRIME WRITER OF COLOUR.

The Joffe Books Prize 2026 is open for submissions! Submit the first 10,000 words of your crime novel by 30 September to be in with a chance of winning.

The aim of the competition, which was established in 2021 and is now in its sixth year, is to discover and launch talented crime writers from Black, Asian, Indigenous, and minority ethnic backgrounds, who are not represented by a literary agent. Writers who live in the UK, as well as British citizens, are eligible for the prize.

We’re looking for crime fiction of all flavours — from electrifying psychological thrillers and domestic suspense, to cosy mysteries and gritty police procedurals. Got a completed draft of a standalone novel or a first in a series? Or just an idea for one? Get ready to submit — or to pick up your pen and start writing!

We’re asking aspiring authors of colour to submit the first 10,000 words of their unpublished novel, meaning that the competition is open to both completed drafts and works in progress. 

The winner will be offered:

  • A two-book publishing deal with Joffe Books

  • A £1,000 cash prize

  • A £25,000 Audible audiobook contract for the first book

  • A two-year membership to the Society of Authors

This year’s Joffe Books Prize judging panel includes Dhonielle Clayton, COO of We Need Diverse Books and New York Times bestselling author; literary agent Shanika Hyslop; award-winning Scottish author Adam Oyebanji; and Rachel Slatter, Joffe Books’ editorial director. 

The shortlist will be announced in October, with the winner being unveiled in November.

HOW TO ENTER:

Submit the following to prize@joffebooks.com

  • A covering letter or email, including information about your writing career so far, your eligibility for the prize, word count of the full novel (or estimated word count if not completed) and your contact details

  • A one paragraph summary of your book

  • A detailed synopsis of the full story, including spoilers

  • The first 10,000 words of your manuscript (written in English)

The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2026, 23.59 GMT. 

ELIGIBILITY & TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

To enter the prize, you must be:

  • From a Black, Asian, Indigenous, or minority ethnic background

  • A British citizen (including those living abroad) or a UK resident

  • And you must not be represented by a literary agent, for either fiction or non-fiction

Late entries will not be accepted. The prize is a package and can only be accepted in its entirety.  Read the full entry details and Terms & Conditions here.

I WISH I COULD ENTER BUT I’M NOT ELIGIBLE!

Joffe Books is one of the few publishers that maintain open submissions all year round for authors and agents, but this prize was set up specifically to encourage submissions from diverse voices. If you’re not eligible for the prize, we’d encourage you to submit to us via our open submissions: https://joffebooks.com/submissions