The Most Beautiful Books 2026 competition is open!
Publishers, printing houses, and designers can submit books of their choice published during 2026 for evaluation to the Finnish Book Art Committee by Wed 20 January 2027 at the latest. In addition to the required information, a picture of the book’s front cover is required.
To be eligible for the competition, at least one person involved in the production of the book must be a Finnish citizen or a permanent resident of Finland: publisher, graphic designer, illustrator/photographer, printer/binder.
The competition is entered by category:
Fiction
Novels, short stories, essays, poems, and plays
Non-fiction
For example: history books, biographies, exhibition catalogs, self-help books, school textbooks
Hobby books
For example: books on crafts, gardening, outdoor activities, and cooking
Art and photography books
Independent artistic works in which the book serves as an alternative to other forms of presentation. Books in which the cover and binding are not merely tools for conveying the content, but form an important part of the content itself.
Comic books and graphic novels
Comic books and graphic novels
Picture books*
Picture books and nonfiction books targeted for children in which visual storytelling plays a central role. The illustrations advance the story and convey information either in dialogue with the text or entirely on their own, in the case of wordless picture books.
Children’s and young people’s novels*
Illustrated novels and short stories in which the text takes center stage. The role of the illustrations varies, and the amount of text is considerably greater than in a picture book.
Experimental, limited editions
Experimental publications, small print runs, and student projects. Publications without an ISBN number may also be included in the series. However, an ISSN number disqualifies a publication from the competition.
Covers
Only the book’s covers (dust jacket, front cover, back cover, and spine) are evaluated.
* A new category: books in this category were previously classified as “Children’s and young adults’ books”.
Enter your book into the competition here
26.3.2026
The Most Beautiful Books of 2025 are chosen
Siemenholvi – Erkka Filander, Poesia
Graphic design: Erkka Filander, Olli-Pekka Tennilä
The Finnish Book Art Committee has selected the most beautiful books of 2025. Erkka Filander’s monumental poetry book Siemenholvi was nominated as the Most Beautiful Book of the Year. The jury was taken by the book’s limit challenging form.
Additionally, for the second time, the jury awarded the Book Act of the Year to a work of exceptional significance in its time. This year, the prize was given to the graphic designer and illustrator Pauliina Nykänen, whose works are visually compelling and often realised with only minimal means, deepening the content of each book. Nykänen’s distinctive hand is represented in the 2025 collection by Sisaruuksia (Kustantamo S&S) and Kadoksiin (Siltala).
The winners were announced at an award ceremony on March 26, 2026, at the National Library.
A total of 25 works from seven different categories have been selected to the Most Beautiful Books collection 2025:
FICTION
LOHDUTUS, runoelma – Pia Johanna Krook, self-published
Graphic design: Pia Johanna Krook
Kadoksiin – Maria Stepanova, Siltala
Graphic design: Pauliina Nykänen
ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS
umbrella stone plate – Tatu Gustafsson, self-published
Graphic design: Hikari Nishida
AER – Pauliina Mäkelä, Helsinki University (HARMAA-hanke) & Sormi Editions
Graphic design: Pauliina Mäkelä
Veden horisontit / Horizons of Water – Ulla-Maija Alanen, Susanna Pettersson, Juhani Pallasmaa, self-published
Graphic design: Ilona Ilottu / Dog Design
CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT’S BOOKS
Stoppa tjuven! – Ulla Donner, Schildts & Söderströms
Graphic design and illustration: Ulla Donner
Kahden kodin lauluja – Ilja Karsikas, Kustantamo S&S
Graphic design and illustration: Ilja Karsikas
Barbaari-Ari rosvojahdissa – Mikko Saarainen, Otava
Graphic design and illustration: Mikko Saarainen
Pieni suuri tarina surusta – Réka Király, Etana Editions
Graphic design and illustration: Réka Király
Apua, kirjassani on pieru – Saara Kekäläinen & Rakastaja Robert, Tammi
Graphic design and illustration: Rakastaja Robert (Robert Lönnqvist)
EXPERIMENTAL, LIMITED EDITIONS
Harjun pieni monumentti – Jussi Hellsten, self-published
Graphic design: Atso Wilén
Illustration: Robin Falck
Photography: Jussi Hellsten
(etäisyys) / Mikä palautti ruumiin (vastaisuuden varalle) – taru s. (Taru Samola), I am not Publishing
Graphic design: Taru Samola
The Archive – Tommi Musturi, Strane Dizioni
Graphic design and illustration: Tommi Musturi
COMIC BOOKS
Lellikki – Juliana Hyrri, WSOY
Graphic design: Juliana Hyrri, Riikka Turkulainen
Illustration: Juliana Hyrri
NON-FICTION AND TEXTBOOKS
Masters of Finnish Glass Art – In Collection Kakkonen – Timo Keinänen, Kaisa Koivisto, Laura Kolbe, Aleksi Kuokka et al., Collection Kakkonen / Parvs
Graphic design: Aki Suvanto, Aleksi Kuokka / Aivan Oy
Tissilogia – Pinja Meretoja, Tammi
Graphic design: Pinja Meretoja
Kivi, paperi, sakset – Kiasman kokoelmanäyttely – Satu Oksanen, Saara Hacklin & Saara Karhunen (eds.), Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma / The Finnish National Gallery
Graphic design: Tytti Halonen & Tino Nyman
Pretty Corners – Heli Thorén & Elina Simonen, Poetical Society
Graphic design: Päivi Helander
COVERS
Genjin tarina – Murasaki Shikibu, Otava
Graphic design: Piia Aho
Sisaruuksia – Ida Kukkapuro, Kustantamo S&S
Graphic design: Pauliina Nykänen
Kuviot, joita kadut eivät tiedä tekevänsä – Samuli Knuuti, WSOY
Graphic design: Sami Saramäki
Kesäruokapäiväkirja – Kia Arpia, Tara Junker, Janne Gammelin & Teemu Heljo, self-published
Graphic design: Janne Gammelin
Fuskmåsen Fy – Linn Henrichson, Förlaget M
Graphic design: Linn Henrichson
Kivi, paperi, sakset – Kiasman kokoelmanäyttely – Satu Oksanen, Saara Hacklin & Saara Karhunen (eds.), Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma / The Finnish National Gallery
Graphic design: Tytti Halonen & Tino Nyman
30.1.2026
The finalists of the Most Beautiful Books 2025 competition are here!
The pre-jury has selected the finalists from all entries submitted to the competition. The main jury, composed of representatives from the Finnish Book Art Committee, will choose the winners from these finalists. The results will be revealed on 26 March 2026 at an award ceremony at the National Library.
ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS
umbrella stone plate – Tatu Gustafsson, self-published
Graphic design: Hikari Nishida
Formless Violence – Henrik Malmström, Pseudo Editions
Graphic design: Ricardo Báez
Horizon – Martti Jämsä, Bokeh Editions
Graphic design: Ilona Ilottu / Dog Design
AER – Pauliina Mäkelä, Helsinki University (HARMAA-hanke) & Sormi Editions
Graphic design: Pauliina Mäkelä
Why are you screaming into the void? – Johanna Bruun, Khaos Publishing
Graphic design: Johanna Bruun
Cruise – Jussi Puikkonen, Garret Publications
Graphic design: Kustaa Saksi
Veden horisontit / Horizons of Water – Ulla-Maija Alanen, self-published
Graphic design: Ilona Ilottu / Dog Design
Good Feelings Every Day – Juliana Irene Smith, Utu Press
Graphic design: Toivo Heinimäki
CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT’S BOOKS
A,B,C, kapybara lomailee – Veera Salmi & Matti Pikkujämsä, Otava
Graphic design and illustration: Matti Pikkujämsä
Var kommer alla dagar ifrån? / Mistä kaikki päivät tulevat? – Maija Hurme, Schildts & Söderströms / Kustantamo S&S
Graphic design and illustration: Maija Hurme
Stoppa tjuven! – Ulla Donner, Schildts & Söderströms
Graphic design and illustration: Ulla Donner
Simpukkakaupunki – Mila Teräs, Satu Kettunen, Karisto
Graphic design: Tiina Palokoski
Illustration: Satu Kettunen
Kahden kodin lauluja – Ilja Karsikas, Kustantamo S&S
Graphic design and illustration: Ilja Karsikas
Barbaari-Ari rosvojahdissa – Mikko Saarainen, Otava
Graphic design and illustration: Mikko Saarainen
Koira nimeltään Kissa hyvästelee ystävän – Tomi Kontio & Elina Warsta, Teos
Graphic design and illustration: Elina Warsta
Pieni suuri tarina surusta – Réka Király, Etana Editions
Graphic design and illustration: Réka Király
Ihan tavallinen Fiona – Veera Salmi & Emmi Jormalainen, Otava
Graphic design and illustration: Emmi Jormalainen
Apua, kirjassani on pieru – Saara Kekäläinen & Rakastaja Robert, Tammi
Graphic design and illustration: Rakastaja Robert (Robert Lönnqvist)
Ateneumin arvoitus – Laura Ertimo & Maria Sann, Tammi
Graphic design: Maria Sann, Laura Lyytinen
Illustration: Maria Sann
EXPERIMENTAL, LIMITED EDITIONS
Memory of a Day I Wasn’t There For – Hanan Mahbouba & Saara Mahbouba, Pirate Papers
Graphic design: Else Lagerspetz
The Girls and PikkuBambi – Samu Pitkänen & Siiri Rajalin, self-published
Graphic design: Samu Pitkänen, Siiri Rajalin
Harjun pieni monumentti – Jussi Hellsten, self-published
Graphic design: Atso Wilén
Illustration: Robin Falck
Photography: Jussi Hellsten
Mani-festo – Roosa-Emilia Ronkainen, self-published
Graphic design: Roosa-Emilia Ronkainen
Lilat: Lesbo/feministinen zine – Nina Andelin, self-published
Graphic design: Nina Andelin
Illustration: Nina Andelin, Tuuli Kudjoi
Photography: Liisa Hietanen, Emilia Usvalaakso, Tuuli Kudjoi
Doppler Effect – Petja Heiskanen & Ronja Siitonen, Utu Press
Graphic design: Toivo Heinimäki, Petja Heiskanen, Ronja Siitonen
(etäisyys) / Mikä palautti ruumiin (vastaisuuden varalle) – taru s. (Taru Samola), I am not Publishing
Graphic design: Taru Samola
The Archive – Tommi Musturi, Strane Dizioni
Graphic design and illustration: Tommi Musturi
FICTION
LOHDUTUS, runoelma – Pia Johanna Krook, self-published
Graphic design: Pia Johanna Krook
Näin minä sen kirjoitin – Helmi Kekkonen, Kosmos
Graphic design: Tero Ahonen
Nieltyjä esineitä – Kaisa Vahteristo, Kosmos
Graphic design: Viivi Prokofjev
Köttsviterna – Lina Bonde, Förlaget M
Graphic design: Linn Henrichson
Kyborgikesä – Aura Siltala, Poesia
Graphic design: Kristian Blomberg, Tommi Musturi
Siemenholvi – Erkka Filander, Poesia
Graphic design: Erkka Filander & Olli-Pekka Tennilä
H eli Hypatia Aleksandrialaisen matka pimeään – Karissa Kettu, Teos
Graphic design: Jussi Karjalainen, Mikko E. Virtanen / Ruesdahl
Kadoksiin – Maria Stepanova, Siltala
Graphic design: Pauliina Nykänen
Vahalapsi – Olga Ravn, Kosmos
Graphic design: Nina Andelin
COMIC BOOKS
The Gloves Come Off! – Christoffer & Kaisa Leka, Absolute Truth Press
Graphic design: Christoffer Leka
Illustration: Kaisa Leka
Lellikki – Juliana Hyrri, WSOY
Graphic design: Juliana Hyrri, Riikka Turkulainen
Illustration: Juliana Hyrri
NON-FICTION AND TEXTBOOKS
Vapaa Taidekoulu – Pirkko Tuukkanen (eds.)
Vapaa taidekoulu / Parvs / HAM Helsingin taidemuseo
Graphic design: Ilona Ilottu / Dog Design
Masters of Finnish Glass Art – In Collection Kakkonen – Timo Keinänen, Kaisa Koivisto, Laura Kolbe, Aleksi Kuokka et al., Collection Kakkonen / Parvs
Graphic design: Aki Suvanto, Aleksi Kuokka / Aivan Oy
Hook Out! Virkkaa tyyliä arkeesi – Molla Mills, Laine Publishing
Graphic design: Anne-Mari Tenhunen
Ystäväni vesi – lasten oma tietokirja – Jenni Erkintalo, Réka Kiraly & Kirsikka Myllyrinne, Etana Editions
Graphic design: Jenni Erkintalo, Réka Kiraly
Tissilogia – Pinja Meretoja, Tammi
Graphic design: Pinja Meretoja
Kolmas elämä – Seppo Fräntin kokoelma Taidekoti Kirpilässä – Taidekoti Kirpilä
Graphic design: Tytti Halonen, Tino Nyman
Kivi, paperi, sakset – Kiasman kokoelmanäyttely – Satu Oksanen, Saara Hacklin & Saara Karhunen (eds.), Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma / The Finnish National Gallery
Graphic design: Tytti Halonen & Tino Nyman
Pretty Corners – Heli Thorén & Elina Simonen, Poetical Society
Graphic design: Päivi Helander
Palestiina ja Israel – Historia karttoina – Timo R. Stewart, Gummerus
Graphic design: Tuija Tarkiainen / Studio Kiss
COVERS
Genjin tarina – Murasaki Shikibu, Otava
Graphic design: Piia Aho
Sisaruuksia – Ida Kukkapuro, Kustantamo S&S
Graphic design: Pauliina Nykänen
Kuviot, joita kadut eivät tiedä tekevänsä – Samuli Knuuti, WSOY
Graphic design: Sami Saramäki
Kesäruokapäiväkirja – Kia Arpia, Tara Junker, Janne Gammelin & Teemu Heljo, self-published
Graphic design: Janne Gammelin
Valtti – suomen kieli ja kirjallisuus – Aleksi Heikola, Tuomas Kaseva, Alice Kyyrö, Maria Laakso, Elina Tuominen & Mari Uusitalo, Otava
Graphic design: Venla Koski, Päivi Puustinen
Fuskmåsen Fy – Linn Henrichson, Förlaget M
Graphic design: Linn Henrichson
Kivi, paperi, sakset – Kiasman kokoelmanäyttely – Satu Oksanen, Saara Hacklin & Saara Karhunen (eds.), Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma / The Finnish National Gallery
Graphic design: Tytti Halonen & Tino Nyman
Sukupolvialus – Kristian Blomberg, Poesia
Graphic design: Tommi Musturi
Pretty Corners – Heli Thorén & Elina Simonen, Poetical Society
Graphic design: Päivi Helander
