Festival of Books 2026 | Prize Ceremony | Day 1

Why It Matters

The ceremony spotlights shifting industry priorities toward diversity and audio formats, influencing authors, publishers, and readers alike.

Key Takeaways

• Amy Tan receives Robert Kersh Lifetime Achievement award.
• 61 finalists compete across 13 categories at 46th LA Times prizes.
• Innovators Award honors We Need Diverse Books for publishing inclusion.
• Adam Ross wins Christopher Isherwood Prize for autobiographical novel.
• Audible presents new award recognizing excellence in audiobook production.

Summary

The Los Angeles Times kicked off its 31st Festival of Books with the 46th annual book‑prize ceremony at USC’s Boulevard Auditorium, showcasing the largest U.S. literary festival and honoring works published in 2025.

The ceremony highlighted 61 finalists across 13 categories—from fiction and poetry to graphic novels and audiobook production—culminating in awards such as the Robert Kersh Lifetime Achievement honor for Amy Tan, the Christopher Isherwood Prize for autobiographical prose awarded to Adam Ross for “Play World,” and the inaugural Audible award for excellence in audiobook production.

Organizers emphasized the event’s broader mission, quoting the executive editor that “reading is political and reading is human,” while also recognizing the Innovators Award to the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books for its systemic push toward inclusion in publishing.

By spotlighting diverse voices and emerging formats, the festival reinforces Los Angeles’s role as a literary hub, signals growing market validation for audiobooks, and underscores the cultural importance of prize‑driven recognition in shaping publishing trends.

Original Description

Live from USC we bring you the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Join us for coverage of one of the largest literary events in the country. Held on the USC campus, the festival brings together hundreds of authors, storytellers, and creators for panels, interviews, performances, and more. Experience the energy of a weekend dedicated to books, ideas, and culture all in one place.