PublisHer Opens Nominations for 2027 Excellence Awards
The global network championing women's leadership in publishing invites nominations for its fourth annual cycle, celebrating female excellence across the industry.
PublisHer, the internationally recognised network dedicated to advancing women’s leadership within the publishing sector, has announced the opening of nominations for the 2027 PublisHer Excellence Awards. This marks the fourth iteration of the prestigious recognition programme, which has established itself as one of the publishing world’s most significant celebrations of female achievement.
Founded by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, PublisHer established the Awards to honour women’s professional accomplishments, foster diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the industry, and facilitate sustained professional development. The programme has proven instrumental in providing nominees and winners with heightened visibility, documented recognition of their contributions, and access to an expansive network of peers and mentors.
Since its inception in 2022, the Awards have garnered international recognition and participation. The 2026 edition attracted 102 nominations from 34 countries, reflecting the breadth of talent represented across publishing’s entire value chain—from editorial and rights management to sales, marketing, technology and entrepreneurial ventures.
Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, PublisHer’s founder, commented on the significance of the expanding recognition: “Every PublisHer Excellence Awards cycle reaffirms how much female talent, creativity and vision there is in every corner of our industry. Opening nominations for a fourth year is a chance to bring more of that leadership into the light, because the more women we recognize, the more we change what leadership in publishing looks like.”
The 2027 Awards span three distinguished categories, each acknowledging different dimensions of leadership excellence. The Emerging Leader award celebrates rising talent who has demonstrated exceptional leadership acumen, strategic vision and an early capacity to effect positive change. The Innovation category recognises significant contributions to book publishing, encompassing editorial leadership, management strategy, organisational culture and technological advancement. The Lifetime Achievement award acknowledges career-long contributions that have shaped the industry’s trajectory.
PublisHer welcomes nominations from across the publishing ecosystem. Colleagues, mentors and peers—both male and female—are encouraged to nominate deserving female publishing professionals whose achievements merit wider recognition. The awards programme also welcomes self-nominations from accomplished women in the sector.
The nomination deadline for the 2027 PublisHer Excellence Awards is 12th January 2027, with the awards ceremony scheduled for April 2027.
Source: WAM