Crystal Kite Awards are NOW OPEN May 1- May 31

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Submissions for the 2026 Crystal Kite Awards are NOW OPEN, from May 1st to May 31st! 

Check out the 2025 winners of the Crystal Kite Awards!

Eligibility:

You must be a current member to nominate your book and at the time the award announcement is made. This award is open to SCBWI authors, illustrators, and translators.

Nominated books must be a PAL book first published within the previous calendar year.

This award is for PAL books; independently published books cannot be nominated.

For Guidelines, visit the Crystal Kite Awards page in SCBWI's Awards and Grants page!

Nominations/Submissions: May 1 through May 31, midnight PST.

Round 1 Voting: June 1 through June 22, midnight PST.

Final Round Voting: June 26 through July 17, midnight PST.

Winners announced: July 24, 2026.

Winners are announced in July in a press release and on the SCBWI website/social media. Winners receive a crystal, engraved kite award, a silver sticker for their winning book, and one winner will be chosen to present at the SCBWI Summer Conference.

Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards

Are you an SCBWI author, illustrator, or translator with a traditionally published book coming out this year?

Here are two awards that should be on your radar; The Golden Kite Awards and the Crystal Kite Awards! 

Two prestigious awards—one given by industry professionals and the other, by peers in SCBWI—these awards are a special way to be recognized by the community! Learn more about it below!

The Golden Kite Awards

"Founded in 1973, the Golden Kites are SCBWI’s most illustrious award for traditionally published books. Judged by a panel of industry experts, the Golden Kites award excellence in seven book categories and are announced live in an annual award ceremony."

The guidelines for the 2026 Golden Kites submissions are sent to publishers directly, so please reach out to your publisher to nominate your book on your behalf. 

Learn more about the application process here and check out the 2025 Golden Kite Awards on YouTube!

The Crystal Kite Awards

"The Crystal Kites are a peer-given award which recognizes great SCBWI books in 15 regional divisions around the world. Any SCBWI member may participate in the selection process, which includes two exciting rounds of member voting. Support your peers by voting for your favorite books of the year! 

SCBWI creators can nominate their own books starting in May. Check your MEMBER HOME for the Crystal Kite portal to appear next month."

Read more about the voting process here.

Stay tuned for updates on submissions, voting and announces over the next few months!