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Literature Awards

The volunteer Literature Award juries of the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) are thrilled to review titles for the 2026 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature (APAAL) and to announce a new award category for consideration – Poetry ! 

The Asian Pacific American Award for Literature honors and recognizes individual works reflecting Asian American, Native Hawaiian and/or Pasifika experiences (either historical or contemporary) and cultures created by Asian American, Asian Canadian and/or Pasifika authors and illustrators. Entries that are created by and highlight the experiences of underrepresented Asian American and Pasifika communities are especially encouraged.

The winners will be announced via APALA’s website, member listserv, and a press release will be sent to various national publications. In addition, youth awardees will be announced during the American Library Association’s 2026 Youth Media Awards Ceremony in Chicago. All entries must be received by October 31, 2025. (Currently, self-published titles are not eligible for the award and for privacy reasons, we do not share our volunteer jury members’ contact information with creators directly.)

Each award will be named and given the award seal and winners of the APALA Literature Awards will receive a plaque at the Asian Pacific American Awards for Literature Banquet during the 2026 American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.

For questions related to the Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, contact litawards[at]apalaweb.org.

Past Literature Award Winners

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