CLF LITERATI Book Awards 2026
The Chandigarh Literature Festival (CLF) is proud to announce the CLF LITERATI Book Award — a celebration of prose, passion and publishing excellence.
Award Categories
Entries are invited for the following categories:
- English Fiction
- English Non-Fiction
- Hindi Fiction/Non-Fiction
Submission Guidelines
CLF invites entries for the CLF LITERATI Book Award from publishing houses and literary agencies based in India.
Who Can Apply?
- Entries are open to all recognized publishing houses and literary agencies based in India.
- Publishers and literary agencies are invited to submit entries for consideration in the CLF LITERATI Book Award.
- All books which are submitted must have a registered ISBN number.
- Eligible titles must have been published in print between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
Number of Submissions
There is no limit to the number of titles a publisher may submit in each category. Multiple titles by the same author are permitted.
Author Consent
Publishers and literary agencies must have prior consent from the author to submit their work for the Award and to participate in any promotional activities linked to CLF LITERATI Book Award.
Submission Requirements
- The category for adjudication should be clearly indicated.
- E-books or digital copies will not be accepted for evaluation.
- Send three copies of each nominated book by courier after completing the nomination form to the secretariat address below.
CLF LITERATI Secretariat Address for Submissions:
CLF LITERATI Secretariat
Chandigarh Literature Festival
Room No. 9, 2nd Floor, Karuna Sadan, Sector 11-B, Chandigarh – 160011
Phone: +91 8872035151
Deadline: All entries must reach us by 11:59 PM on August 30, 2026. Late entries will not be considered. Proof of dispatch will not be treated as proof of receipt.
Originality & Responsibility
By submitting a book, the nominating party affirms that plagiarism and intellectual property checks have been completed. CLF will not be liable for any rights violations discovered at any stage, including after the awards are announced.
Ineligible Works
- Academic or research theses
- Edited volumes or multi-author anthologies
- Reference works, textbooks, guidebooks, or instructional manuals
- Open-access educational materials
- Reprints and adaptations for television, radio, or film tie-ins
- Self-published books
CLS reserves the sole right to determine whether an entry meets the eligibility criteria for a category.
Selection Process
- A jury panel will review the entries and create a longlist and shortlist based on the set criteria.
- The shortlisted entries will be announced publicly with publisher details by October 20, 2026, and participants will be informed directly.
- Shortlisted authors must confirm their availability to attend CLF LITERATI 2026 in Chandigarh during the festival (04–06 December 2026).
- The jury’s decision is final.
Event & Prize
Winners will receive their Award and Citation during CLF LITERATI 2026. Each awardee will receive:
- CLF Literati Book Award Trophy
- A Citation in recognition of their achievement
- A Cash Prize