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Interested in
submitting your book
to The Prize?
Submit your book to The Prize.
Interesting in submitting your latest book to The Prize? All eligible authors/books are welcome to submit their work for consideration! For questions about the submission process, contact us at thurberprize@thurberhouse.org.
Book Submission Resources
*Click the sections below for eligibility rules and the link to submit.
What do I need to submit for consideration?
PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND REFER TO THE SPECIFIC PRIZE ELIGIBILITY & SUBMISSION RULES FOR YOUR YEAR OF INTEREST BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION.
1) The online entry form, including a PDF version of your book (to be used solely for judging purposes; PDFs may be watermarked). If you represent multiple authors, please submit one entry form per book.
2) $75 submission fee — if you are using a credit card, you will be asked for payment on the online entry form. If you are mailing a check, complete the online entry form, then mail your check to Thurber House at the address below. Submission fees are non-refundable.
3) Mail five printed copies of the book to:
Thurber House
Attn: Thurber Prize
77 Jefferson Avenue
Columbus, OH 43215
Please note:
• Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) are not eligible for judging purposes. You must send the officially released book.
• If you represent multiple authors, you may enclose multiple submissions in the same box.
• If you are paying by check, please enclose your check with your books whenever possible.
What is the submission/judging/award timeline?
Here's how the entire process works:
1) Submissions typically open in January or February for books being published that year (for example purposes, let's say you have a book published in the year 2050).
2) Submissions are due by May 31 of the following year for books published in the previous calendar year (in our example, your book published in the year 2050 is due by May 31, 2051).
3) Thurber Prize judging begins shortly after the May 31 submission deadline and all books are received. There are two rounds of judging.
4) Semi-finalists are typically notified in October (in our example, this would be October 2051).
5) Finalists are typically notified in January or February (in our example, this would be January or February 2052).
6) The award is presented in April or May (in our example, this would be April or May 2052).
Still have questions?
Please contact us at thurberprize@thurberhouse.org, and we’ll be happy to help.
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The submission deadline for The 2027 Thurber Prize for American Humor is May 31, 2026. Books published in 2025 are eligible.
IMPORTANT: BE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR BOOK FOR THE CORRECT THURBER PRIZE BASED ON ITS PUBLICATION DATE.
PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND REFER TO THE SPECIFIC PRIZE ELIGIBILITY & SUBMISSION RULES FOR YOUR YEAR OF INTEREST BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION.
The 2027 Prize2027 Prize Eligibility & Submission Rules
The submission deadline for The 2026 Thurber Prize for American Humor is May 31, 2025. Books published in 2024 are eligible.
IMPORTANT: BE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR BOOK FOR THE CORRECT THURBER PRIZE BASED ON ITS PUBLICATION DATE.
NEW THIS AWARD CYCLE: Only books that are traditionally published and hybrid published (by legitimate, reputable hybrids) are eligible. All hybrid publishers will be vetted; they must be selective with the titles they publish and adhere to IBPA’s Hybrid Publisher Criteria.
PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND REFER TO THE SPECIFIC PRIZE ELIGIBILITY & SUBMISSION RULES FOR YOUR YEAR OF INTEREST BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION.
The 2026 Prize2026 Prize Eligibility & Submission Rules
The award show by and for funny people.
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