For Immediate Release — September 11, 2026

The Christy Award® Announces 2026 Finalists in Nine Fiction Categories

34 Finalists revealed today during special webinar;
Winners to be announced November 6 in Nashville

CHANDLER, AZ — September 11, 2026 — The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) has announced the 34 finalists in nine fiction categories for the 2026 Christy Award®, recognizing excellence in Christian fiction published March 2025 to March 2026.

The 34 novels represent the work of 13 publishers and imprints, with all categories but two reporting ties.

The finalists were revealed today during a special online event hosted by award-winning author and radio host Chris Fabry and ECPA President Jeff Crosby.

“This year’s finalists represent the remarkable creativity, depth, and excellence of Christian fiction,” said Crosby. “We are honored to recognize these authors and their stories, and we look forward to gathering the Christian fiction community in Nashville this November to celebrate the power of faith in story and announce the winners.”

2026 Finalists for The Christy Award®

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE – tie

Echoes of a Silent Song, Amanda Wen
Kregel Publications, 9780825449819

Hearts on the Fly, Toni Shiloh
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764245206

Kate Landry Has a Plan, Rebekah Millet
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764240966

The Voice We Find, Nicole Deese
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764241208

FIRST NOVEL

In the Light of the Sun, Angela Shupe
WaterBrook, an imprint of PRH Christian, 9780593601938

The Lawyer and the Laundress, Christine Hill Suntz
Tyndale House Publishers, 9798400507762

Where Stillness Speaks, Chelsey Welwood
Chelsey Welwood, 9798298040112

GENERAL FICTION

The Bitter End Birding Society, Amanda Cox
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800746612

South of Somewhere, T.I. Lowe
Tyndale House Publishers, 9798400507816

When the Road Comes Around, Katie Powner
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764245169

HISTORICAL – tie

The Daughter of Rome, Angela Hunt
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764241581

The French Kitchen, Kristy Cambron
Thomas Nelson Fiction, 9781400345267

From the Valley We Rise, Elizabeth Musser
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764243493

Splendor of the Land, Connilyn Cossette
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764238932

HISTORICAL ROMANCE – tie

The Belle of Chatham, Laura Frantz
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800746568

The Collector of Burned Books, Roseanna M. White
Tyndale House Publishers, 9798400501746

Mists Over the Channel Islands, Sarah Sundin
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group,, 9780800741877

Through Water and Stone, Karen Barnett
Kregel Publications, 9780825448539

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER – tie

The Accused, Cara Putman
Kregel Publications, 9780825448058

Final Approach, Lynette Eason
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800741228

Girl Lost, Kate Angelo
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800746636

Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse, Jaime Jo Wright
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764243790

SHORT FORM – tie

A Very Merry Matchup, Becca Kinzer
Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496489067

One Nine, Sara Davison
Sara Davison, 9781069326928

Planning for Nickie, Tasha Hackett
Tasha Hackett, 9781965778043

To Reveal a Reckless Love, Robin Lee Hatcher
RobinSong, Inc., 9781962005173

SPECULATIVE – tie

Every Hour until Then, Gabrielle Meyer
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764243011

Heir of Light, Niki Florica and Jill Williamson
Sunrise Publishing, 9781963372649

Maxine Justice: Public Offender, Daniel Schwabauer
Enclave, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9798886052381

Of Dawn and Embers, Gillian Bronte Adams
Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9798886052428

YOUNG ADULT – tie

Illuminary, Chawna Schroeder
Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9798886051902

The Outsider, Katy Morgan
The Good Book Company, 9781802542974

Sons of Day and Night, Mariposa Aristeo
Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9798886052343

The Star-Blessed, Angie Dickinson
Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media, ‎ 9798886052534

View the full list of finalists and cover images at https://christyawards.com/finalists-winners.html.

The Christy Award is widely supported and promoted through a broad network of retailers and industry partners, including:
Barnes & Noble, Christianbook.com, The Parable Group, Baker Book House, Logos, Mardel, More to Life, JustRead Rendezvous, JustRead Tours, Family Fiction, Crazy4Fiction, Christian Editors Association, Chris Fabry Live, Reading Is My Superpower, Thomas Nelson Fiction, Write to Publish, Life Is Story, West Coast Christian Writers, Blue Ridge Writers Conference, Publishing in Color, Christian Retailers Association, NetGalley, and Christianity Today.

Winners to Be Announced November 6 in Nashville

The 2026 winners will be announced at The Christy Award® Gala on November 6 in Nashville, culminating a full day designed to bring together Christian fiction authors, readers, publishers, and industry professionals.

The day begins at 10 a.m. with Beyond the Book: Get to Know the Finalist Authors, an intimate gathering where readers can meet and hear from this year’s finalists.

From 12–5 p.m., The Art of Writing Seminar will bring together authors and publishing professionals for sessions exploring key issues shaping Christian fiction today, including industry trends, artificial intelligence, writing craft, and the author-editor relationship.

At 7 p.m., The Christy Award® Gala will celebrate the finalists and announce the winners. Hosted by Chris Fabry, the evening will feature a keynote address from Michelle Shocklee, recipient of the 2025 Christy Book of the Year for All We Thought We Knew (Tyndale). Continuing Christy tradition, category awards will be presented by last year’s Christy Award-winning authors.

All events will be held at the Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel. Registration is now open at https://christyawards.com/registration.html.

ABOUT ECPA AND THE CHRISTY AWARD®

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization made up of member companies involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities for members to more effectively deliver transformational content. Learn more at ECPA.org.

The Christy Award® has honored and promoted excellence in Christian fiction since 1999. Named after Christy by Catherine Marshall—which has sold over 10 million copies since its 1967 release—this prestigious program became part of ECPA in 2017 to further elevate the role of fiction in Christian publishing. TheChristyAward.com

Media Contacts:
Jeff Crosby, ECPA President — jcrosby@ecpa.org, 630-989-0222
Cindy Carter, Awards & Recognition Manager — ccarter@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 x806

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