For Immediate Release – March 13, 2026

Christian Publishing Leaders to Be Honored at 2026 ECPA Awards Celebration

Robert Wolgemuth to receive Lifetime Achievement honor

Christian Book Award winners to be announced; April 28 during Leadership Summit in Schaumburg, Illinois

CHANDLER, Ariz. — March 13, 2026 — Christian publishing leaders from across the industry will gather in Schaumburg, Illinois, this spring for the ECPA Leadership Summit, culminating in the annual ECPA Awards Celebration on April 28, where the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) will honor the legacy of longtime publishing leader Robert Wolgemuth and recognize the year’s most outstanding Christian books.

Held during the Leadership Summit, the event brings together publishers, authors, literary agents, and industry leaders to celebrate excellence in Christian publishing and the books shaping readers’ lives. The evening will include the announcement of the 2026 Christian Book Award® winners across twelve categories. The top honor, Christian Book of the Year®, will be presented in a recorded announcement by New York Times bestselling author John Mark Comer, last year’s recipient.

The celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg, where attendees will gather for dinner and an awards program. Speaker, author, and literary agent Barb Roose will open the evening with remarks reflecting on the legacy of Christian publishing and inspiring the next generation of authors, publishers, and agents.

“Each year the ECPA Awards Celebration gives our industry a moment to reflect on the extraordinary calling of Christian publishing,” said ECPA President Jeff Crosby. “We honor leaders whose work has shaped the past, celebrate the books impacting readers today, and encourage the next generation who will carry this mission forward.”

The ECPA Awards Celebration is one of the Christian publishing industry’s signature annual gatherings, recognizing both the year’s most impactful books and the leaders whose work has shaped the field. The celebration takes place during the ECPA Leadership Summit, which brings together publishers, authors, agents, and industry professionals for collaboration, insight, and vision for the future of Christian publishing.

Honoring the Legacy of Robert Wolgemuth

The Kenneth N. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented posthumously to Robert Wolgemuth in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Christian publishing. Throughout his career, Wolgemuth served the industry as an author, publisher, literary agent, and trusted mentor to countless writers and leaders. His work reflected a deep commitment to stewarding authors and helping bring messages of faith and truth to readers around the world. Wolgemuth also served as chair of the ECPA board, helping strengthen collaboration and vision across the Christian publishing community. His widow, author and ministry leader Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, will accept the award on his behalf.

ECPA Chair Award: Bruce Barton and Dave Veerman

The 2026 ECPA Chair Award will be presented to Bruce Barton and Dave Veerman, founders of Livingstone Corporation.

Since launching Livingstone in 1988, Barton and Veerman have helped shape a new category of Bible publishing through innovative specialty Bible editions designed to make Scripture more accessible and practical for readers. Their company has also become widely respected for providing exceptional design, editorial, and typesetting services for Christian trade books, helping publishers bring high-quality books to readers around the world.

Celebrating Industry Milestones

The evening will also recognize milestone anniversaries of several ECPA members and affiliates:

David C Cook — 150 years
WaterBrook — 30 years
FrontGate Media — 25 years
MetaComet Royalty Solutions — 25 years

Additionally, recipients of this year’s ECPA Milestone Sales Awards will be recognized. These awards celebrate books reaching major sales benchmarks:

Bronze — 100,000 copies
Gold — 500,000 copies
Platinum — 1 million copies
Diamond — 10 million copies

Together, the Christian publishing industry represents more than $1 billion in annual book sales, reaching readers through churches, bookstores, schools, and global ministry networks.

The ECPA Awards Celebration is included with registration for the ECPA Leadership Summit. Guest tickets are also available for purchase.

About ECPA
ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) is an international nonprofit trade organization comprised of member companies involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by providing networking, information, and advocacy opportunities across the industry so members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. ECPA.org

Media Contacts:
Jeff Crosby, ECPA President
jcrosby@ecpa.org
480-966-3998 ext. 802

Cindy Carter, ECPA Awards & Recognition Manager
ccarter@ecpa.org
480-966-3998 ext. 806

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