The Zia Book Award started in 1953 to honor an outstanding woman in New Mexico media. Each year the award rotates to one of three categories: non-fiction, fiction, and children’s literature. To accommodate this schedule, a book published in the last three years is eligible.

Zia Book Award for 2026 is for women authors of children’s books who have a significant connection to New Mexico are encouraged to enter the New Mexico Press Women’s Zia Book Award contest to select the outstanding nonfiction book.

The award is given each year by the New Mexican Press Women at their annual spring conference. Entries are considered on a rotating three-year cycle. Adult nonfiction books will be considered in 2027 and Adult fiction books will be considered in 2028.

The 2026 Zia Award will be given to an outstanding adult fiction book published in 2023, 2024, or 2025.

Submissions can be made by the author or someone else on behalf of the author, such as a publisher. Membership in New Mexico Press Women is not required (although it provides a discounted entry fee). However, the writer must be a woman who lives in or has a strong connection to New Mexico. The book may be published anywhere.

To be eligible to receive the award, the selected finalists must be available to read at the annual award luncheon during the 2026 conference on Saturday, May 2, 2026.