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The 2026 Skylark Award

The 2026 Skylark Award was given to Keith R.A. DeCandido, Boskone 63 Master of Ceremonies. Keith R.A. DeCandido has been an author, editor, teacher, martial artist, critic, Census worker, pop-culture commentator, library clerk, sportswriter, and musician over the past four decades. In addition, Keith is the percussionist for the parody band Boogie Knights and is a fourth-degree black belt in karate (he not only trains regularly, but also teaches to both kids and adults). Find out more at his mediocre web site at DeCandido.net. 

Nominations for the 2026 Skylark closed on Saturday, November 1st, 2025.

The 2026 Skylark recipient was announced at the Boskone 63 awards ceremony on Friday, February 13, 2026.

Learn more here about the E. E. Smith Memorial Award.

 

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The 2026 Gaughan Award

The recipient of the 2026 Gaughan Award was Abigail Larson.

The Jack Gaughan Award for Best Emerging Artist honors the memory of Jack Gaughan, a long-time friend of fandom and one of the finest SF artists of the 20th century. Because Jack felt it was important to encourage and recognize new blood in the field, The New England Science Fiction Association, Inc., presents the Gaughan Award annually to an emerging artist (an artist who has become a professional within the past five years) chosen by a panel of judges.

The winner of the 2026 Gaughan Award was announced in February 2026 during Boskone 63, NESFA’s annual convention.

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2025–2026 Short Story Contest

The NESFA Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Story Contest for 2025-2026 is now closed, for new submissions and has moved into the judging phase. The deadline for entries was October 30th, 2025. The winners will be announced at Boskone 63, February 13–15, 2026, at the Westin Boston Seaport District hotel, with a portion of the announcement broadcast virtually. Boskone usually includes a program item where Story Contest authors read their stories. Winners are posted here.