Call for Submissions for the 23rd Roshd National Book Festival Published

According to the children and youth service of the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), the call for submissions for the 23rd Roshd National Book Festival has been published. In this edition of the festival, works by publishers, authors, and translators will compete in the areas of religious identity, national and revolutionary identity, family identity, and acquiring individual and social competencies in educating the future-building generation of Islamic Iran.

In addition to the general section awards which will be presented according to the festival’s annual program, special awards for this edition will be allocated to valuable works in the following areas:

Special Axes of the 23rd Festival

Special Award “Dear Iran”:

• Narrative of the 12-day war; national unity and cohesion; cherishing national, revolutionary, and Islamic figures, models, and heroes; loyalty to the Supreme Leader; narrative of the achievements of the Islamic Revolution; child and patriotism; historical events as lessons; cherishing Persian language and literature; rule of law; the ideal of Palestine, jihad and resistance; truth-seeking and anti-arrogance.

Special Award “Way of Life”:

• Iranian Islamic lifestyle; family-centricity; family stability; role model of the Iranian Muslim boy/girl; life skills; manners and culture of dialogue; culture of chastity and hijab; halal business; model of happiness; parenting in the age of new technologies.

Special Award “Kissable Hand”:

• Culture of gratitude; respect for teachers and elders; respect for parents; respect for veterans and families of revered martyrs; respect for cultural workers and servants, honoring the status of knowledge and scholars.

Special Award “Meaning of Life”:

• Monotheistic worldview; biographies of Imams; freedom; modesty and zeal; meaningfulness of life, value of time.

Special Award “Civilizational Leap”:

• Science, research, and inquisitiveness; hope creation and determination to build the future; focus on consumption of national products; civilization building; beneficial science and purposeful knowledge enhancement; problem-solving skills; thinking and creativity; self-confidence; prioritizing collective interests over individual ones; work culture; skill development.

Conditions for Participation in the Festival Call

• Published works in the children and youth section (ages 0-18) related to the goals of the education system are prioritized.
• Submitted works must have been published for the first time (first print) during the years 1402 to 1404 (2023 to 2025).
• Providing two copies of each book title is mandatory.
• Books published in 1403 (2024-2025) that were previously sent by publishers to the permanent secretariat of the Roshd Book Festival do not need to be resent.
• Books submitted in previous editions of the Roshd Book Festival are not eligible to participate in this section.
• There are no restrictions on the number or formats of books submitted.

Advantages of Receiving the Roshd Seal

• National recognition for selected publishers and authors in the festival;
• Legal presence in the cultural and educational product market for schools and educational centers;
• Introduction of top books in the annual Roshd book catalog and lists;
• Introduction of top books in school textbooks;
• Utilization of the promotional capacity of Roshd magazines;
• Introduction in the Roshd and Shad systems of the Ministry of Education;
• Opportunity to participate in book exhibitions, festivals, competitions, and reading campaigns in schools;
• Increased family trust in the usefulness and suitability of the work.

How to Submit Works

Interested publishers and authors, after registering details of relevant books on the festival secretariat system at http://samanketab.roshd.ir, must send two copies of their books to the Roshd Book Festival secretariat by January 10, 2026. The address of the Roshd National Book Festival secretariat is: Tehran, Karimkhan Zand Street, North Iranshahr Street, corner of Qasr-al-Dashti Alley, No. 268, Organization for Educational Research and Planning, Building of the Office of Publications and Educational Technology, 5th Floor, Roshd National Book Festival Secretariat. Postal code: 1584747359; Phone: 87196587 – 021.

It should be noted that the closing ceremony of the 23rd Roshd National Book Festival will be held in early Bahman (late January/early February).