The Harvey Awards announced their 2026 nominees, July 6, 2026.
The Harvey Awards
It’s awards season for the comic book industry, with the Eisner Awards due to be handed out in two weeks at San Diego Comic-Con. Another prestigious award, the Harveys, which are presented annually at New York Comic Con, just announced their 2026 nominees, featuring some of the top graphic novels, webcomics, international comics and media tie-ins of the past year.
While the Eisners are expansive in their range of categories, the Harveys are concise, recognizing the year’s top achievements in comic book and graphic novel publishing across seven categories: Book of the Year, Digital Book of the Year, Best Children’s Book, Best Young Adult Book, Best Manga, Best International Book, and Best Adaptation from Comic Book/Graphic Novel. The Harveys also name creators to their Hall of Fame, announced separately.
The Harvey Awards are named for the visionary writer/artist/editor Harvey Kurtzman (MAD!). Debuting in 1988, the annual Harvey Awards have helped guide readers, retailers, librarians, and educators to hundreds of essential comics and graphic novels for almost four decades.
“My father believed early on that comics deserved to be taken seriously as art—art that could change how people see the world. Every one of these nominees carries that forward. They’re books that entertain you, challenge you, surprise you, and stick with you long after the last page,” said Nellie Kurtzman, Harvey Awards Steering Committee Co-Chair.
According to the Harvey Award Committee, this year’s nominees by category are:
Digital Book of the Year
This category honors creators who are redefining publishing through digital-first storytelling and innovation. “Digital comics continue to establish where and how great stories can be told. This category recognizes those pushing the medium into exciting new territory while reaching readers across the globe,” said Kurtzman.
- In the Real Dark Night by Jimmy Gownley (Webcomic)
- The Keluarga Cable Ship Company by Mereida Fajardo (UK Digital)
- The Lycan by Mike Carey, Thomas Jane, David James Kelly, and Diego Yapur (Comixology Originals)
- Nap Comix by Rachael Smith (WEBTOON)
- Practical Defense Against Piracy by Tony Cliff (Webcomic)
- Terran Omega: The Ghosts of War by PJ Holden (Webcomic)
- The World of Lublu by Charbak Dipta (The Charbax Store)
Best Children’s Book
This category honors outstanding comics and graphic novels that inspire young readers through imaginative storytelling, memorable characters, and accessible adventures.
“Kids who grow up with comics become readers for life. There’s something about seeing a story unfold in pictures that pulls a kid in differently than text alone—and these books do exactly that,” said Kurtzman.
- A Fishboy Named . . . Sashimi by Dan Santat (Roaring Brook Press)
- Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks (First Second)
- The New Girl: First Crush by Cassandra Calin (Scholastic)
- Night Chef by Mika Song (Random House Graphic)
- Young Shadow & the Watchdogs by Ben Sears (Fantagraphics)
Best Young Adult Book
“YA graphic novels continue to tackle life’s biggest questions with honesty, sophistication, and artistry. They’re among the most important books published today,” said Chip Mosher, Harvey Awards Steering Committee Co-Chair.
- Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen (Random House Graphic)
- Flip by Ngozi Ukazu (First Second)
- Good Old-Fashioned Korean Spirit: A Graphic Novel by Kim Hyun Sook & Ryan Estrada (Penguin Workshop)
- Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young (Little, Brown Ink)
- This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki & Nicole Goux (Abrams Fanfare)
Best Manga
This category celebrates the artistry and storytelling of manga, honoring the works and creators carrying one of the world’s most influential comics traditions to readers everywhere.
“Manga continues to influence creators, readers, and storytellers around the world. These nominees represent extraordinary craftsmanship and show why manga remains one of the most dynamic forces in global publishing,” said Chip Mosher, Harvey Awards Steering Committee Co-Chair.
- Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa & Takashi Nagasaki (Kana/Abrams)
- He Rolled Me Up Like a Grilled Squid by Yoshiharu Tsuge (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Land by Kazumi Yamashita (Yen Press)
- Miss Ruki by Fumiko Takano (NYR Comics)
- My Gorilla Family by Iijima Ichiro (Living the Line)
- My Life in 24 Frames Per Second by Rintaro (Kana/Abrams ComicArts)
Best International Book
This category recognizes outstanding comics and graphic novels from around the world, spotlighting the creators and stories expanding the medium beyond borders and languages.
“The five nominees for Best International Book showcase the power of sequential art and its ability to communicate across geography and culture in a way few other art forms can,” said Lind.
- Animan by Anouk Ricard (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Buff Soul by Moa Romanova (Fantagraphics)
- Mary Pain by Lola Lorente (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Nocturnos by Laura Perez (Fantagraphics)
- Tiodora’s Letters: An Enslaved Woman’s Fight for Family and Freedom by Marcelo D’Salete (Fantagraphics)
- Witchcraft by Sole Otero (Fantagraphics)
Best Adaptation from Comic Book/Graphic Novel
This category, sure to be a close contest this time around, recognizes comics’ ongoing influence on television, film, streaming, and interactive entertainment.
“My father’s work on MAD challenged and changed pop culture, proving comics could shape and influence television, film, and comedy. Today’s Best Adaptation category celebrates the remarkable fact that, for decades, comic books have continued to have an outsized influence on mainstream popular culture, because this medium continuously produces extraordinary and unforgettable characters and stories,” said Nellie.
- The Boys — Season 5 (Prime Video). Based on The Boys by Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson (Dynamite)
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (Theatrical — Crunchyroll/Sony). Based on Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto (VIZ Media)
- Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (Theatrical — Crunchyroll/Sony). Based on Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge (VIZ Media)
- Invincible — Season 4 (Prime Video). Based on Invincible by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker & Ryan Ottley (Image/Skybound)
- LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Warner Bros. Games — PS5/Xbox/Switch/PC). Based on Batman (DC Comics), created by Bob Kane & Bill Finger
- My Hero Academia — Final Season (Crunchyroll). Based on My Hero Academia by Kōhei Horikoshi (VIZ Media)
- One Piece — Season 2 (Netflix). Based on One Piece by Eiichiro Oda (VIZ Media)
- Peacemaker — Season 2 (HBO Max). Based on Peacemaker (DC Comics, orig. Charlton), created by Joe Gill & Pat Boyette
- Spider-Noir (Prime Video/MGM+). Based on Spider-Man Noir (Marvel Comics) by David Hine, Fabrice Sapolsky & Carmine Di Giandomenico
- Your Letter (Netflix). Based on Your Letter by Hyeon A. Cho (WEBTOON/Naver)
Book of the Year
The Harvey Awards’ highest honor recognizes the year’s best work, in an effort to help guide readers, retailers, librarians, and educators to essential titles.
“Book of the Year makes the Harvey Awards unique. If someone asks which comics they absolutely have to read this year—these nominees are the answer,” said Lind.
- Absolute Batman Volume 1: The Zoo by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta (DC)
- Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol 1: Martian Vision by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez (DC)
- Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance by Ben Passmore (Pantheon)
- Cannon by Lee Lai (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Drome by Jesse Lonergan (23rd Street Books/Macmillan)
- The Ephemerata: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief by Carol Tyler (Fantagraphics)
- A Garden of Spheres by Linnea Sterte (Peow2)
- More Weight: A Salem Story by Ben Wickey (Top Shelf/IDW)
- The Once and Future Riot by Joe Sacco (Metropolitan/Holt)
- The Weight by Melissa Mendes (Drawn & Quarterly)
The Harvey Awards nominations committee, which votes on the nomination ballot, comprises select creators, publishers, retailers, educators, and librarians. Industry professionals with Professional or Artist Alley badges from ReedPop comic conventions between 2016 and 2026 are eligible to vote on the final Harvey Awards ballot.
According to the Awards committee, selected professionals have already been registered to participate in the general voting and will receive a personalized voting link via email. Any industry professionals who would like to vote can apply via the Harvey Awards Apply to Vote page. Voting closes on August 28th, 2026.
The world will learn who won the Harveys at the Harvey Award Ceremony at ReedPop’s New York Comic Con, October 9, 2026 at the Javits Center.