Costa Book Awards ends after 50 years in 'massive blow' to industry

Publishers have said the end of the Costa Book Awards is a "massive blow" for the industry, reacting to the announcement that was made online today.

Costa Coffee’s c.e.o. Jill McDonald said the company had taken the "difficult decision" to end the awards permanently after 50 years, meaning the 2021 ceremony, which was held in February 2022, was the last iteration of the prize. There are currently no plans for it to be taken over. The surprise announcement was made via social media today (10th June) but no reason was given for the decision. 

The Costa Book Awards was founded in 1971 and was known as the Whitbread Book Awards until 2005. The awards recognised writing in five categories, with awards for First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Book, with four winners receiving £5,000, and one receiving £30,000 and taking home the flagship prize of Costa Book of the Year. The accolade has been won by authors including Monique Roffey, and was scooped most recently by Hannah Lowe. 

A statement from McDonald said: "We are incredibly proud to have played a part in supporting some of the bestselling authors of the last 50 years as well as trailblazing diverse and fresh voices, tackling a broad range of themes and ideas, across fiction, poetry and biography. And we are honoured to have helped both these new and established talents reach a wider audience of readers.

"We would like to thank all those who have been involved and supported the Costa Book Awards over the past 50 years as we close this chapter."

Today’s news was greeted with dismay by publishers and agents.

"The Costa prizes have played an enormously important role in our literary ecosystem over the years, and authors and publishers alike will feel their loss keenly," said Oneworld founder Juliet Mabey. "At Oneworld we have several authors based in the UK who would have been eligible for the upcoming prize, so I’m especially disappointed for them. I suspect that the challenging financial climate in the UK is likely to have played a part in Costa’s decision, but it is a massive blow nonetheless - we’ve never needed the support of a brilliant clutch of prizes like this more."

Ian Chapman, m.d. at Simon & Schuster UK, said he was "really saddened to hear this news".

"The Costa has played such a huge part in the publishing world over the last 50 years – leading the way to support bestselling and trailblazing authors and it’s been a pleasure to see the shortlist and winners every year. The industry would not be where it is now without the award and I hope that we’re able to find something to fill the gap and continue reaching a wider audience of readers."

Clare Alexander of Aitken Alexander Associates called it a "blow". She said: "While there are aspects of the prize that I might question, it has been a really welcome celebration in particular of accessible fiction, poetry and biography. I wonder if a white knight might be found to salvage some or all of a prize that has been an important part of the publishing landscape for half a century."