The Bath Novel Award is a £5,000 international prize for adult and YA novels of every genre. The prize is open to unagented writers, who are unpublished, self-published or independently published without advance. Submissions are invited from 1st December to 31st May and we welcome writers of every age, gender, nationality and residency.

BNA winners include: Abi Daré for the manuscript of New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller The Girl with the Louding Voice, Ben Reeves for the manuscript of the instant New York Times bestseller Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt and Ian Fleming Estate author Kim Sherwood for the manuscript of Testament.

2026’s winning manuscript will be judged by literary agent of the year AMANDA HARRIS. The winner will be announced on September 30th and awarded £5,000 along with our beautiful Minerva trophy, inspired by the iconic sculpture in Bath’s Roman Baths.

Shortlisted writers win a compilation of award readers’ comments on their full manuscripts. Longlisted writers win a compilation of award readers’ comments on their extract and synopsis.

One longlisted writer will also win a place worth £3,750 on the 18 week virtual course Edit Your Novel the Professional Way courtesy of Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and the Professional Writing Academy.