The 2026 BestThrillers.com Book Awards
The award series devoted to recognizing amazing mystery and thriller books across 15 categories.
Get Noticed. Grow Sales.
The BestThrillers.com Book Awards helps deserving authors stand out from the pack.
BestThrillers.com Awards By The Numbers
$1,000
Awarded to Book of the Year
16
Winners
60
Category Finalists
Be One of 16 Winners
The 2026 Overall Book of the Year Winner will receive $1,000 in cash. Our 15 category winners will receive our gold-and-black award seal, their book featured in our popular “Best Of The Year” post, permanent listing on the BestThrillers.com website, inclusion in the BestThrillers.com featured books email newsletter, social channels and more.
Be One of 60 Finalists
Sixty category finalists will receive a silver seal for their book cover or website, inclusion in an article announcing the contest winners and finalists, and a one-sentence quote from Bestthrillers.com for use in book marketing campaigns.
2026 Award Series Categories
Award categories focus on the sub-genres mystery & thriller fans are most consistently passionate about. These categories are broad enough to be inclusive for almost any title, but specific enough to help authors grow a niche audience.
A-D
Action Thriller
Conspiracy Thriller
Crime Thriller
Detectives/Sleuths
Domestic Thriller
H-M
Historical Thriller Horror/SupernaturalLegal Thriller
Medical Thriller
Military Thriller
M-S
Mystery
Political Thriller
Psychological
Sci-Fi Thriller
Spy Thriller
Notable Past Winners
Frequently Asked Questions
What books are Eligible?
Any English-language book published in 2025 or 2026 is eligible. See detailed terms and conditions here.
What is the entry deadline?
The early entry period begins on April 4 2026, with discounts for early entries ending on May 31 2026. The final deadline for entry is September 30 2026.
What if my book is not published yet?
If your book is not yet published, but is targeting a publication date prior to December 31, 2026, it is eligible. See detailed terms and conditions here.
Is there a discount for entering in multiple categories?
Yes. While this is, broadly speaking, a thriller book award series, few books fit neatly into any single sub-genre. Each category entry is ultimately routed to separate sub-genre panels, such as mystery, domestic thriller, sci-fi or fantasy. Enter in two or more categories and receive an automatic 25% discount at checkout. See detailed terms and conditions here.
When will winners be announced?
Winners will be notified by November 30 2026. The public “Best Thrillers of 2026” campaign will begin in early December 2026 and continue through December 31 2026. See detailed terms and conditions here.
Who won last year?
Winners and finalists included both first-time authors and established writers from several countries across 15 categories. See the 2025 complete list of winners and finalists here.