Costa Book Awards
Welcome
The Costa Book Awards is one of the UK's most prestigious and popular literary prizes and recognises some of the most enjoyable books of the year by writers based in the UK and Ireland.
It’s unique for having five categories: First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book.
The winner in each category receives £5,000, and then one of the five winning books is selected as the overall Costa Book of the Year, receiving a further £30,000, and making a total prize fund of £55,000. The Costa is the only prize which places children's books alongside adult books in this way.
The Costa Book Awards started life in 1971 as the Whitbread Literary Awards. From 1985 they were known as the Whitbread Book Awards until 2006, when Costa Coffee took over ownership from Whitbread.
Since 1971, the awards have rewarded a wide range of excellent books and authors across all genres. Click here to see them all
Latest News
24/01/12
ANDREW MILLER WINS 2011 COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR
Novelist Andrew Miller has won the 2011 Costa Book of the Year, his first major literary award, for his sixth novel, Pure. Set in pre-revolutionary Paris in 1785, Pure is the story of Jean-Baptiste Baratte, an ambitious young engineer, who is assigned the task of emptying the noxious, overflowing Parisian cemetery Les Innocents, and of demolishing its church.
The announcement was made this evening (Tuesday 24th January) at an awards ceremony held at Quaglino's in central London.
Click here for full details.
03/01/12
Costa Book Awards 2011 Category Winners Announced
Costa has announced the Costa Book Awards 2011 winners in the Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book categories.
Announced on Radio 4, this year's winners are novelist Andrew Miller, new writer Christie Watson, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, debut biographer Matthew Hollis and first-time children's author, Moira Young.
Click here for full details.
09/12/11
Final Judging Panel for Costa Book Awards 2011 Announced
The final judging panel for this year's Costa Book of the Year has been announced today. It includes London Evening Standard Editor Geordie Greig (Chairman), actor and comedian Hugh Dennis, actress Dervla Kirwan and broadcaster Mary Nightingale.
Click here for full details.
15/11/11
Costa Book Awards 2011 Shortlists Announced
Costa is pleased to announce the shortlists for the 2011 Costa Book Awards.
Announced live tonight on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row programme, this year’s lists include Julian Barnes, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Patrick McGuinness, Claire Tomalin and Frank Cottrell Boyce.
Click here for full details.
01/06/11
Entry Forms Available for Download
Entry forms for the 2011 Costa Book Awards are now available to download here as a PDF. Close of entry is Friday 24th June 2011. Books must be entered by publishers, not individuals, and self-published books or books that are solely published online are not eligible. Full terms and conditions are on page 6 of the form, and some frequently asked questions are answered here. Good luck!
