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Trillium Book Award
Literary award supporting Ontario writers
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Overview
This program recognizes excellence in Ontario literature and supports marketing and public awareness. It awards books in fiction, non-fiction, drama, children’s literature, and poetry, with prizes for authors and publishers.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Reach a new target audience
- Launch or market a product/service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- Artists / creatives
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- Submission of eligible books for annual literary award consideration.
- Books in fiction, non-fiction, drama, children’s literature, and poetry.
- English and French-language award categories.
Documents Needed
- Completed submission form
- One eBook copy in EPUB or PDF format
- Two printed copies of each title
Sources and recorded changes
- Source change captured
- Change recorded
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Trillium Book Award guidelines updated
The Trillium Book Award submission dates now run to November 6, 2026 and January 29, 2027, and the new 2027 guidelines add updated eligibility rules including AI-content exclusions.
The Trillium Book Award submission page now points to the 2027 English guidelines, with final deadlines of November 6, 2026 for titles published between January and October 2026 and January 29, 2027 for titles published in November and December 2026. The new guidelines also add or clarify eligibility limits, including exclusion of books with AI-generated text or illustrations and titles where the author contributed financially to publication costs, and they set the 2027 shortlist for Spring 2027 with author event participation during the week of June 21, 2027.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Book publishers
- Ontario authors and publishers of eligible books
- English-language and French-language book publishers
Who is not eligible
- Books that contain AI-generated text or illustrations, in part or in whole, are not eligible.
- Ghostwritten books are not eligible for submission.
- Self-published titles are not eligible for submission.
- Titles for which the author contributed financially toward the publication costs are not eligible.
- Anthologies, new editions, re-issues, re-issues, reprints and translations are not eligible for submission.
Eligible expenses
- Marketing and promotion support for finalist titles.
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Selection criteria
- Literary excellence is the main criterion.
- Submissions are judged by a jury of writers and literary community members.
- Shortlists and winners are selected by language-specific juries.
How to apply
- Upload one (1) eBook of each title in EPUB or PDF format to Ontario Creates’ online submission form.
- Submit two (2) paper copies of each title with a hard copy completed submission form.
- For titles published between January and October 2026, submit as soon as possible and no later than November 6, 2026.
- For titles published in November and December 2026, submit upon publication; submissions will be accepted up to January 29, 2027.
Processing and Agreement
- Submissions are reviewed by a jury of writers and literary community members.
- The jury selects a shortlist and the winning titles.
- Winners are announced after the shortlist in Toronto.
- Publishers of shortlisted titles must support promotion and publicity activities.
Additional information
- Publishers of finalist titles receive a promotion grant.
- A jury of writers and literary community members reviews submissions.
- Shortlist and winners are announced in Toronto.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Trillium Book Award Program
What is the Trillium Book Award?
This program recognizes excellence in Ontario literature and supports marketing and public awareness. It awards books in fiction, non-fiction, drama, children’s literature, and poetry, with prizes for authors and publishers.
How much funding can be received?
Trillium Book Award Funds up to $20,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Trillium Book Award program?
To be eligible for the Trillium Book Award program, you must:
Ontario writer requirement
Publishers only
ISBN and page minimum
What expenses are eligible under Trillium Book Award?
Marketing and promotion support for finalist titles.
Who can I contact for more information about the Trillium Book Award?
You can contact Ontario Creates by email at programs2@ontariocreates.ca or by phone at 416-642-6652.
Where is the Trillium Book Award available?
The Trillium Book Award program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Trillium Book Award a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Trillium Book Award is a Grant and Funding