2026 Science Fiction Awards

English translation?

Usually yes for a Chinese-language original. The 2026 awards introduced Best Translated Novel, aimed at translated novels published in English during 2025.

Eligible works

Science fiction, fantasy, and horror published in 2025 across the poll’s categories. Voters may write in works not included on the Locus Recommended Reading List.

Selection

No traditional jury. The results are determined by the Locus reader poll; voting is free and open to all, with subscriber votes traditionally weighted more heavily.

Deadline

April 1, 2026 — reader ballot, not a direct author-submission deadline.

Official poll2026 results

English translation?

Yes for a Chinese-language work: it must first be published in English in the United States during 2025 to meet the published-work rule.

Eligible works

Science fiction, fantasy, or related-genre work first published in English in the United States from January 1 through December 31, 2025. Fiction categories are divided by word count; comics and poetry were added for this award year.

Selection

Eligible SFWA Full, Associate, and Senior members nominate and vote. A Nebula Awards Commissioner and the SFWA Awards Rules Committee administer eligibility; there is no separate literary jury.

Deadline

February 28, 2026 — member nomination deadline. Authors cannot nominate their own work, but non-members may send an eligible electronic copy to the Awards Commissioner for member consideration.

How to participateOfficial rules2026 ceremony

English translation?

No. The competition accepts original Chinese-language science fiction.

Eligible works

Open to science-fiction writers and fans nationwide. Entries had to include at least one of these elements: Mars, aerospace, or the Lenghu Astronomical Base. Short fiction: 5,000–20,000 Chinese characters; mid-length fiction: 30,000–50,000.

Selection

Anonymous judging through preliminary, secondary, and final rounds. The 2026 judging team included co-founder Yang Feng and science-fiction writer Bao Shu.

Deadline

April 1, 2026 — direct submission deadline by email.

2026 call for entries2026 ceremony report

English translation?

Not formally required. A work first published anywhere in 2025 may be eligible; a work first published in English translation in 2025 can also receive 2026 eligibility. In practice, an English edition greatly improves access for voters.

Eligible works

Science-fiction and fantasy works or achievements from 2025 in the relevant categories. Authors do not submit directly and do not need to be Worldcon members to be nominated.

Selection

Eligible WSFS members nominate and LAcon V members vote on the final ballot. Hugo Administrators appointed by the year’s Worldcon administer eligibility and counting; there is no judging panel.

Deadline

March 28, 2026 at noon PDT — nomination ballot. Final voting closed August 8, 2026 at noon PDT.

Official 2026 Hugo page2026 nomination rulesHugo FAQ

English translation?

No. The fiction and original-book categories concern Chinese-language science fiction.

Eligible works

The fiction-award route principally covers work published in the Galaxy Award section of Science Fiction World or books led by the magazine; accepted magazine work automatically gains eligibility. Best Original Book was open to all original Simplified Chinese science-fiction books formally published in China during 2025.

Selection

Reader-voted preliminary selection, professional review, and a final jury. The 37th award’s final jury was chaired by Liu Cixin.

Deadline

No separate, unified author-submission deadline was published. Publication during 2025 was the eligibility boundary; the 2026 preliminary reader ballot closed February 28. New fiction can be submitted to Science Fiction World on a rolling basis.

Official award pageMagazine submissions2026 ceremony notice

English translation?

No. Work categories must be expressed and published in Chinese; the awards also include a category for Chinese translations of non-Chinese work.

Eligible works

Chinese-language science fiction published from January 1 through December 31, 2025. The 17th awards cover novels, mid-length fiction, short fiction, translated works, nonfiction, criticism, new writers, and the “Star Bridge” category. Authors or authorized rights holders may submit.

Selection

An invited recommendation committee of at least 50 members conducts preliminary and second-round voting; a final jury selects the Gold and Silver awards. The organizing committee is chaired by science-fiction writer He Xi.

Deadline

December 31, 2025 — direct online submission deadline. Final judging ran April 1–30, 2026. The ceremony was announced only as “in China in 2026”; an exact date had not been published as of September 7.

2026 charterSubmission guide2026 shortlist notice