‘…Tonight we celebrate storytellers, tonight we lean in’.
– Joseph Coelho, Keynote speaker
On Wednesday 18 June hundreds of guests and SoA members joined us for the 2025 SoA Awards and Summer Party to celebrate fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children’s literature. The evening was a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of recognising the talented voices that shape our literary world.
Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, Chair of the Board introduced the event, welcoming more than 300 guests in-person to the stunning Southwark Cathedral and many more joining us virtually from all over.
This year, author, composer, and SoA Board Member, Helen Epega, opened the event with an operatic performance from her production, Song Queen: A Pidgin Opera. She also hosted the awards ceremony, which included a keynote speech from bestselling author Joseph Coelho. The Very Reverend Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark Cathedral, greeted guests virtually with a passionate address on the profound impact of literature and the importance of engaging deeply with language.
‘We need reading to unlock the gymnasium for underused imagination, for a more substantial human empathy, and for a deeper, more comprehensive, generous celebration of honest complexity rather than the dishonest simplicity that is in political and populist vogue’
– The Very Reverend Dr Mark Oakley.
Following Joseph Coelho’s empowering keynote speech on the transformative journey of writing, we were inspired by his reflections on the courage that all writers find when they choose to share their stories. His words echoed through the room, reminding us that the true measure of success as a writer is not found in book deals or bestseller lists, but in the simple act of creation.
‘I always try to remember how wonderful it is to realise yourself as a writer, how lucky we are to have found the courage to write. That courage is not dependent on six figure book deals or best seller stats, that courage requires only that we pick up a pen and a pad or tap words into the notes app on our phones or sit with friends and family to share a story.’
– Joseph Coelho, Keynote speaker
As the evening unfolded, we proudly distributed more than £170,000 in prizes to over 20 exceptional writers, poets, and illustrators. Each award highlighted the immense talent and creativity within the literary community, making this year’s event an inspiring celebration of the written word.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, both in person and online, for helping to make the evening unforgettable – we look forward to seeing where these incredible voices will take us in the years to come.
Thank you for all of the love online, you can follow and share the joy via the hashtag #SoAwards.
Speeches and prizegiving
The speeches and prizegiving were streamed live to an international audience.
You can celebrate the shortlisted and winning authors from this year’s SoA Awards and at the same time support both the SoA and indie bookshops. Browse the list of titles, and use code soa2025 at checkout to get a further 10% off the listed price here. The offer will last until the end of June. And if you order this weekend (June 21-22) Bookshop.org is offering free shipping on all orders.
- Read the 2025 SoA Awards news release
- Check out the images from the 2025 SoA Awards © Adrian Pope
- Buy the 2025 SoA Awards books from this year’s shortlistees and winners
- Download the 2025 SoA Awards booklet
- Watch the 2025 SoA Awards livestream on YouTube
Gallery
Event photographs © Adrian Pope.
