BE THE STAR OF THE ROMANCE BOOK WORLD
Enter The Emma Awards for Your Chance to Shine!
The 2026 Emma Awards Is Now Accepting Books Published in 2025
THE EMMA AWARDS FOR DIVERSITY IN PUBLISHING
The Emma Awards are the premier romance book awards, celebrating multicultural excellence in romance and women’s fiction. These prestigious awards honor diverse authors across multiple romance subgenres—including interracial romance, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, and more.
Each top entry in its respective genre is recognized, ensuring a wide range of multicultural love stories receive the spotlight they deserve. More than just an award, the Emma Awards promotes inclusive, relatable storytelling, helping diverse voices find their place on readers' shelves.
THE 2026 EMMA AWARDS ARE OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS!
NOW ACCEPTING BOOKS PUBLISHED IN 2025 FOR THE 2026 EMMA AWARDS.
Submit your book for a chance to gain more exposure.
Become a Finalist and we'll showcase your book for FREE, without you breaking the bank!
Increase your chances of winning by entering more than one category.
Who knows, you may even win the Book Of The Year cash prize.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The Emma Awards are open to diverse authors of color who have written a novel or novella that includes at least one multicultural protagonist that was published for the first time between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025.
Eligible books submitted for consideration of an Emma Award must be written by a diverse author of color who is at least eighteen years of age by the nomination deadline and the book must feature at least one diverse protagonist (hero or heroine) who is, for example, Black, Latino, Asian, etc. (including biracial and multiracial characters).
THE EMMA AWARDS FOR DIVERSITY IN PUBLISHING
CATEGORIES & GENRES
The Emma Awards Includes:
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
COMMERCIAL FICTION WITH ROMANTIC ELEMENTS
EROTIC ROMANCE
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
INSPIRATIONAL / SPIRITUAL ROMANCE
INTERRACIAL ROMANCE
NOVELLA ROMANCE
PARANORMAL / SCI-FI / FANTASY ROMANCE
ROMANTIC COMEDY
MYSTERY / SUSPENSE ROMANCE
SWEET & CLEAN ROMANCE
YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE
UPGRADE: Choose Two Categories
Are you interested in submitting your book into more than one category? Upgrade your entry and you can increase your chances of winning by selecting a second category to enter [New as of 2025]. *Must be the same book.
UPGRADE - $250 CASH PRIZE:
Book Of The Year Award
Book Of The Year is a coveted spot at the Emma Awards. It is the ultimate award of excellence. The author who takes home the Book Of The Year Award also walks away with a $250 cash prize. [New as of 2025].
WHY SHOULD YOU ENTER?
What others say when they enter The Emma Awards.
The year ended with great news. Last night, The Thing About Home won the Emma Award for Best Contemporary Romance. I'm so excited and honored. I'm glad the story resonated with the judges. Nigel Evanston was my pleasure to write.
*Previous Winner.
This group celebrates romance books and diversity in publishing and we are here for it! We are thrilled and honored to have our book, a Mindy’s Book Studio selection, recognized this way.
*Previous Winner.
Entering the new year with a smile! So grateful for the judges and readers who voted for me and LOVE ON THE BYLINE in the Emma Awards. Congratulations to all of the winners, finalists, and runner-ups!
*Previous Winner.
ENTER THE 2026 EMMA AWARDS NOW!
DEADLINE – SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2026
Start the Emma Awards entry process here:
Entry Fee Starts At $60
