The British Academy’s £25,000 non-fiction book prize is awarded annually for a book that contributes to public understanding of world cultures. It is designed to illuminate the interconnections and divisions that shape cultural identity worldwide.
How to nominate
Nominations for the British Academy Book Prize are currently opened and the deadline for submissions is 31 March 2021.
Nominations are invited from publishers, Fellows of the British Academy and by open call.
Nominators must complete the online nomination form and submit an electronic version to prizes@thebritishacademy.ac.uk and three copies of the book they wish to nominate to: The British Academy Prizes Team, The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH.
For submissions made by Fellows or open call (via the online form) the British Academy will contact the publisher to request three copies of the nominated book.
If you are publisher and would like to send your catalogue please email prizes@thebritishacademy.ac.uk
Please view the eligibility criteria for further details.
Key dates 2021
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Launch and opening of the 2021 Prize for nominations |
19 January |
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Event with Hazel Carby to mark the opening of the cycle |
26 January |
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Closing of nomination period |
31 March |
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Shortlist announcement |
7 September |
History of the prize
The Nayef Al Rodhan Prize for Global Cultural Understanding was created by the Academy in partnership with Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan with the aim of establishing it as a significant force in global publishing and prizegiving. Across the last eight years, these objectives have been most successfully accomplished, and there is now a high level of international awareness of the prize and a distinguished array of shortlisted authors and eventual winners. Their work explores many different aspects of global cultural understanding and combines the highest academic quality with a determined resolve to reach the broadest possible public audience.
Given the success of the prize and as we reach the end of the very generous period of seed-funding we received, Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan is keen to explore new opportunities with the Academy to develop other ventures for a similar effect for philosophy.
We will honour his generosity and foresight by continuing to award what will now be called the British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding from 2021 onwards.
2020 Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize for Global Cultural Understanding: winner's event
Catch up on Hazel V. Carby, winner of the 2020 British Academy Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize for Global Cultural Understanding, discussing her book, 'Imperial Intimacies: A Tale of Two Islands', in conversation with Claire Armitstead. Carby’s book is a haunting and evocative history of the British Empire, told through her own mixed-race family history.
The jury
Madawi Al-Rasheed FBA
Writer and academic, Visiting Professor at the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics
Catherine Hall FBA
Professor Emerita of Modern British Social and Cultural History at University College London
Fatima Manji
Channel 4 News broadcaster and journalist
Philippe Sands QC FRSL
Lawyer, academic and writer, University College London and Matrix Chambers
Patrick Wright FBA
Writer and broadcaster, Professor of Literature and Visual and Material Culture at King’s College London
