London Book Fair Opens Excellence Awards for Submissions

In News by Porter Anderson

Both the Lifetime Achievement recognition and London Book Fair’s International Excellence Awards are seeking 2023 nominations.

At the 2022 edition of London Book Fair. Image: Publishing Perspectives, Porter Anderson

By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson

Deadline for Submissions: December 16
The International Excellence Awards produced by England’s London Book Fair (April 18 to 20) have today (November 4) opened submissions for the 2023 cycle.

Celebrating the work of organizations and professionals from many parts of the world, the program says, the International Excellence Awards form “a showcase for the passion, creativity, and innovation in the books industry.”

The trade show in London will be produced by its second director in as many years, with Gareth Rapley now at the helm for the first time. And a new category, the Sustainability Initiative Award, is being added this year to “acknowledge those organizations championing environmental efforts in the publishing world.”

The full list of categories for this year’s International Excellence Awards comprises:

  • Audiobook Publisher
  • Bookstore Award
  • Library Award
  • Literary Translation Initiative Award
  • Sustainability Initiative Award
  • Inclusivity in Publishing Award (United Kingdom only)

The fair is also asking for nominations for the LBF Lifetime Achievement Award, “which recognizes the work of those who have dedicated their lives to transforming publishing.”

Winners in recent years have included Hiroshi Hayakawa, Margaret Busby, Nigel Newton and Dorotea Bromberg.

Rapley: ‘A Wonderful Platform’

In a prepared statement, Rapley is quoted, saying, “The International Excellence Awards are a wonderful platform to recognize the inspirational work being done by the global book industry.

“I’m particularly pleased that we are introducing the Sustainability Initiative Award this year, as I know this is a topic close to the hearts of many in the publishing industry, and we look forward to shining a light on the fantastic initiatives that are helping the book world become more sustainable.

Gareth Rapley

“Each year the LBF team is blown away by the innovation and creativity demonstrated by publishers, booksellers, librarians, and more, and we can’t wait to see the nominations that come in this year.

“London Book Fair’s Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades, honoring those remarkable individuals who discover and champion extraordinary talent, push boundaries, and take book publishing to another level.

“The list of previous recipients is a veritable who’s who of publishing excellence and we look forward to adding another book champion to this group in 2023.”

Here’s the page on which you can put forward a nomination and get more information about the process.

Shortlists are expected to be announced early in 2023.

This is Publishing Perspectives’ 188th awards-related report in the 197 publication days since our 2022 operations began on January 3.


More from Publishing Perspectives on London Book Fair is here, more on world publishing’s book fair and trade show events is here, and more on the United Kingdom’s publishing market is here.

More on the many book and publishing awards programs in the world industry is here, and more on the International Excellence Awards is here.

More from us on the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on international book publishing is here.

About the Author

Porter Anderson

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Porter Anderson is a non-resident fellow of Trends Research & Advisory, and he has been named International Trade Press Journalist of the Year in London Book Fair's International Excellence Awards. He is Editor-in-Chief of Publishing Perspectives. He formerly was Associate Editor for The FutureBook at London's The Bookseller. Anderson was for more than a decade a senior producer and anchor with CNN.com, CNN International, and CNN USA. As an arts critic (Fellow, National Critics Institute), he was with The Village Voice, the Dallas Times Herald, and the Tampa Tribune, now the Tampa Bay Times. He co-founded The Hot Sheet, a newsletter for authors, which now is owned and operated by Jane Friedman.