The Hollywood Creative Alliance, best known for the Astra Film Awards, is continuing its expansion with the launch of a brand-new ceremony: the Astra Book Awards.
Following the successful debut of the Astra Podcast Awards in 2025, the organization is broadening its footprint within the entertainment and creative industries by recognizing excellence in literature. The inaugural Astra Book Awards will take place on Monday, April 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, with the venue to be announced at a later date.
Submissions for the Astra Book Awards are now officially open and will close on March 13, 2026. Authors and publishers from around the world are encouraged to participate, provided the book is written in or available in English.
In conjunction with the launch of the Book Awards, HCA is also expanding its membership. The organization is now accepting new members across the literary space, including Authors, Book Critics, Literary Agents, Librarians, and other industry professionals.
Additional information regarding eligibility, categories, and key dates can be found at AstraBookAwards.com.
Official 2026 Timeline
Submissions Open: Monday, February 16, 2026
Submissions Close: March 13, 2026 (11:59 PM PT)
Nominating Committee Voting Begins: March 23, 2026
Nominating Committee Voting Ends: March 29, 2026
Nominations Announced: March 31, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT
(Press release and social media announcement)
Final Voting Begins: April 6, 2026
Final Voting Closes: April 12, 2026
Astra Book Awards Ceremony: Monday, April 20, 2026
Los Angeles, California
(Venue to be announced)
Registration Period
The official 2026 submission window runs from:
February 16, 2026 – March 13, 2026
All entries must be submitted and paid for by the closing deadline.
Nomination Rules & Eligibility
Publication Window
Eligible books must have been released between:
January 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026
Submission Materials
All submissions must include:
- A digital download copy of the book (required)
- Hard copies (optional but accepted)
Digital access is mandatory for review purposes.
Submission Fees
- $100 per category entry
- Books may be entered into multiple categories
- Each category requires a separate $100 submission fee
- All fees must be paid via the Astra Awards online payment system
- Submissions are non-refundable
Important Submission Policies
- Books must be officially submitted to be considered.
- Third parties may submit on behalf of an author or publisher.
- All submitted books are automatically eligible for Book of the Year, which will be voted on by the full membership of the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Award Categories
Books may be submitted in one or more of the following categories:
- Best Autobiography or Memoir
- Best Biography
- Best Celebrity Book
- Best Children’s Book
- Best Fantasy
- Best Fiction
- Best First Book
- Best Historical Fiction
- Best Horror
- Best LGBTQ+
- Best Mystery
- Best Non-Fiction
- Best Ongoing Book Series
- Best Romance
- Best Romantasy
- Best Science Fiction
- Best Thriller
- Best True Crime
- Best Young Adult
- Book of the Year
Nominating Committee
Members of the Hollywood Creative Alliance will be invited to serve on the Astra Book Awards Nominating Committee.
Committee members will receive:
- A complete list of eligible submissions
- Downloadable digital access to submitted books
- Rolling access to submissions as they are received
