// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy was the Aldiss Award a great listener? It was an award-winning diss.
| Aldiss Award | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Awarded for | A work of speculative fiction with excellence in worldbuilding |
| Venue | World Fantasy Convention |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Presented by | British Science Fiction Association; British Fantasy Society; UK Interactive Entertainment Association |
| First award | 2025 |
| Website | thealdissaward |
The Aldiss Award is an annual award given for worldbuilding in the speculative fiction genre. It is named for British science fiction author Brian Aldiss.
History
[edit]The award was launched in 2025, which would have been the year in which Aldiss celebrated his one hundredth birthday. The inaugural award was announced at the World Fantasy Convention.[1]
The Aldiss Award judging panel is composed of select members of the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA), the British Fantasy Society, and the UK Interactive Entertainment Association.[2] The judges for 2025[1] and 2026[3] were author David Green; Janet Forbes, founder of World Anvil; and Allen Stroud, outgoing chair of the BSFA.
The winner of the award receives a commemorative bookend.[4]
Winners and shortlist
[edit]* Winners and joint winners
| Year | Author | Work | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rogba Payne* | The Dance of Shadows | [1] |
| Aman J. Bedi | Kavithri | [4] | |
| Gabriella Buba | Saints of Storm and Sorrow | [4] | |
| Veronica Roth | When Among Crows | [4] | |
| Caitlin Rozakis | Dreadful | [4] | |
| Wole Talabi | Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon | [4] | |
| 2026 | Morgan Ryan | A Resistance of Witches | [5] |
| Oliver K. Langmead | City Of All Seasons | [5] | |
| Aliya Whiteley | |||
| Adrian Tchaikovsky | Shroud | [5] | |
| Caitlin Rozakis | The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association | [5] | |
| Tasha Suri | The Isle in the Silver Sea | [5] |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Uwiske, Blessing (3 December 2025). "Rogba Payne Wins Inaugural Aldiss Award for Worldbuilding with "Dance of Shadows"". Brittle Paper. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
- ↑ "Home - The Aldiss Award". Aldiss Award. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
- ↑ Glyer, Mike (30 September 2026). "Aldiss Award 2026 Short List". File 770. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2025 Aldiss Award Shortlist". Locus. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Yon, Mark (29 September 2026). "AWARDS: Brian W Aldiss Award 2026 Nominees Announced". SFF World. Retrieved 30 September 2026.