World Fantasy Award
The premier juried award for fantasy literature, presented annually at the World Fantasy Convention.
About the World Fantasy Award
The World Fantasy Awards are presented annually at the World Fantasy Convention to recognize the best fantasy fiction and art. First presented in 1975, the awards are among the most prestigious in the fantasy field, known for honoring literary quality and artistic achievement.
Unlike purely fan-voted awards, the World Fantasy Awards use a hybrid system: both convention attendees and a panel of judges participate in the selection process. This combination helps identify works of lasting artistic merit while still reflecting reader enthusiasm.
Categories
- Best Novel - Fantasy novel
- Best Novella - 10,000-40,000 words
- Best Short Fiction - Under 10,000 words
- Best Anthology - Multi-author fantasy anthology
- Best Collection - Single-author story collection
- Best Artist - Fantasy illustrator or artist
- Special Award - Professional - Outstanding professional contribution
- Special Award - Non-Professional - Outstanding fan contribution
- Life Achievement - Career excellence in fantasy
Selection Process
Works are nominated by World Fantasy Convention members. A panel of five judges reviews nominations and selects the final ballot and winners. The judging panel changes each year, ensuring fresh perspectives while maintaining high standards.
Recent World Fantasy Award Winners - Best Novel
| Year | Title | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Saint of Bright Doors | Vajra Chandrasekera |
| 2023 | Babel | R.F. Kuang |
| 2022 | A Master of Djinn | P. Djeli Clark |
| 2021 | Piranesi | Susanna Clarke |
| 2020 | Queen of the Conquered | Kacen Callender |
| 2019 | Witchmark | C.L. Polk |
| 2018 | The Changeling | Victor LaValle |
| 2017 | The Obelisk Gate | N.K. Jemisin |
| 2016 | The Buried Giant | Kazuo Ishiguro |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the judging process work?
Convention members nominate works, then a panel of five judges (authors, critics, and publishers) reviews all nominations and selects finalists and winners. Judges serve one-year terms and are chosen by the convention organizers.
What is the World Fantasy Convention?
The World Fantasy Convention is an annual gathering of fantasy professionals and fans, held in a different city each year. It emphasizes the literary and artistic aspects of fantasy and provides extensive networking opportunities.
How does the WFA differ from the Hugo?
The Hugo Awards are purely fan-voted, while the World Fantasy Awards use a hybrid system with professional judges making final selections. The WFA is also exclusively for fantasy, while Hugos cover both science fiction and fantasy.
What was the original trophy design?
The original trophy was a bust of H.P. Lovecraft designed by Gahan Wilson. In 2015, this was changed to a stylized tree design to be more inclusive of the diverse fantasy community.