The National WWII Museum Book Awards recognize the most outstanding nonfiction books on WWII history published each year. Awards in two categories—Best Book and Best Debut Book—celebrate new works for their excellent contributions to public understanding of the war that changed the world.
As historians and authors unearth new details and impactful insights from World War II, public discourse and understanding of this monumental time in human history is deepened, and sometimes even redefined.
Now, with the launch of its annual Book Awards, The National WWII Museum will recognize the most outstanding nonfiction books on WWII history published each year. This initiative will help promote the field of WWII historical research, expand its audience, and support authors in their scholarly endeavors. Awards in two categories will celebrate new works for their excellent contributions to public understanding of the war that changed the world.
The Best Book in WWII History Award will recognize the top English-language, nonfiction book on World War II of the calendar year with a prize of $50,000. The Best Debut Book in WWII History Award will recognize an excellent English-language, nonfiction book on World War II from a first-time published author with a prize of $10,000. Along with bolstering visibility of their work, the Book Awards and associated prizes will support awardees’ continued research, writing, and contributions to the library of World War II.
The inaugural Book Awards will be bestowed upon works published in 2026. Finalists and awardees will be announced each spring, and the winning authors in both categories will be hosted at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans later in the year to participate in a public program discussing their work.
To be considered for either award, each nomination must meet the following criteria:
- Nominations must be an English-language, nonfiction work of a scholarly historical nature exploring any area of WWII history. Quality of research, overall readability, and originality are important factors.
- The committee will only accept nominations from academic or commercial presses/publishers. Self-published works or works submitted by the author will not be accepted.
- Physical copies of the published works are required. Digital and physical page proofs, galleys, and ARCs will not be accepted.
- Translations, revised editions, edited volumes, anthologies, memoirs, or diaries will not be considered.
- Books nominated for the 2026 award must have a publication date from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.
- Best Debut Award Only: Nominations for this category must be the author’s first published work of nonfiction.
To submit a nomination:
- Publishers must complete the online submission form below.
- Once the form has been filled out, nominators will receive an email with a mailing address. Publishers must send four (4) physical copies to the mailing address provided. Physical copies of the published works are required.
- The Museum must receive these copies by December 31, 2026, unless other arrangements have been approved on a case-by-case basis for books published before the end of the calendar year.
Q: Can a book be submitted for both award categories?
A: Yes, a title that fits the criteria for both awards can be submitted for consideration for each category. However, a title cannot win in both award categories. If submitting for both award categories, publishers must provide four copies to each of the selection committees (a total of eight [8] books).
Q: Is there a fee associated with submissions?
A: No, there is no submission fee for either award category.
Q: Are books by international authors eligible?
A: Yes, all English-language works that fit the submission criteria are eligible to submit for both award categories regardless of nationality.
Q: Are books with multiple authors eligible?
A: Yes, so long as the book meets the other submission criteria above.
Q: When will I hear back about my selection status for the awards?
A: Finalists and awardees will be contacted by The National WWII Museum early in the year before being publicly announced in the spring. A representative of the Museum will reach out to the contact information provided in the submission form.
Q: Who is on the selection committee for the awards?
A: The selection committees will consist of leading scholars in the field of WWII history, including members of the Museum’s Presidential Counselors advisory board, experts from the Museum’s Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy, and members of the Museum’s broader community of scholars.
Q: Does the author need to be present to receive the award?
A: Yes, the winning authors in both categories will be hosted at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans to accept their award and participate in a public program discussing their work.
Please direct any additional questions to bookawards@nationalww2museum.org.