Black British Book Festival and Pan Macmillan Open Free, Unagented Submissions for Up to Three Book Deals

Can an unagented writer get a Pan Macmillan deal without an agent? For Black writers in the UK, there is now a direct route. The Black British Book Festival (BBBF) and Pan Macmillan have opened submissions for a new publishing collaboration, and "up to three books will be selected for publication by Pan Macmillan, subject to individual publishing agreements," the festival says.

It is free to enter, writers keep the rights to their work, and the first stage closes at 11.59pm on 30 November 2026 (UK time).

The festival calls the model "a publishing first." Its volunteer Community Readers will help shape a longlist, and Pan Macmillan's editorial team will then assess the strongest submissions.

Who can apply

According to the festival's guidelines, you must:

• Be aged 18 or over
• Identify as Black, "including Black African, Black Caribbean, or wider African and Caribbean diaspora heritage, as well as mixed heritage writers who identify as Black"
• Be based in the UK at the time of submission
• Be unagented for the manuscript you submit
• Have a completed manuscript

"You do not need a literary agent, publishing contacts, a big social media following or previous industry experience," the announcement says. The book also does not have to be about race. "Black writers should be empowered to write about everything," the festival writes.

Self-published books can qualify

This is the detail indie authors should read twice. The guidelines say previously published authors are welcome, and that "previously self-published manuscripts remain eligible provided you still own the rights needed to make the confirmations required for submission." Applicants will be asked whether they have published or self-published before, and whether the manuscript itself has been.

Writers can send up to two manuscripts per submission window.

What the call covers

Submissions are open across fiction and non-fiction. Fiction categories include commercial, literary, crime and thriller, romance, fantasy and science fiction, historical, horror, middle grade (ages 8 to 12) and young adult (ages 13 to 18). Non-fiction includes history, biography and memoir, science and politics, business and personal development, health and wellness, food and drink, and sport. Children's picture books are not accepted this time.

How the process works

Stage one asks for book details and a short pitch, a synopsis of up to 500 words, a writing sample of up to 5,000 words, a "Why This Book?" statement, three comparison titles and a short author bio. The manuscript must already be finished. "Professional editing is not required," the guidelines say.

Stage two is by invitation. Writers who stand out are asked for the full manuscript, and those submissions shape the official BBBF longlist. Pan Macmillan's editorial teams then review the books, "alongside community insight." Selection is not guaranteed.

The festival says BBBF and Pan Macmillan will work together on "editing, designing, marketing, launching" the chosen books, with Pan Macmillan handling formal editing, production and distribution.

A firm no-AI rule

The collaboration page is clear on generative AI. It says generative AI "must not be used to create, write, rewrite, develop, expand, restructure or materially edit your manuscript or other substantive application materials," other than minor revisions to refine your own content. Standard spelling and grammar checkers are allowed.

Why the festival says it matters

The festival points to NielsenIQ BookScan data showing just fourteen Black authors in the UK's top 1,000 bestselling authors, accounting for 0.9% of total market value, down from 1.6%. "Talent is everywhere, but access is not," it says.

"For five years, our community has shown the industry that Black readers are here and Black writers are ready," said Selina Brown, the festival's founder and CEO.

The call builds on five years of Pan Macmillan as the festival's headline sponsor. It was launched at BBBF26, held on October 4 at the Barbican Centre in London, which the festival says drew 6,000 people to more than 35 events with over 80 authors and creatives.

Why it matters for authors

It skips the agent step. This call is built for unagented writers, the stage-one package is short, and the publisher is one of the UK's largest.

Your self-published book may be eligible. If you still hold the rights, a backlist title you published yourself can be submitted. Check your rights before you apply.

Finish first. You need a complete manuscript at stage one, so a book that is still in progress cannot go in this round.

Watch the AI line. Using generative AI to draft, rewrite or restructure your manuscript rules it out. Spell check and grammar tools are fine.

Mark the date. Stage one closes at 11.59pm UK time on 30 November 2026, which is 3:59 PM Pacific.

Sources

• Black British Book Festival: BBBF x Pan Macmillan: Your Book Could Be Next (October 11, 2026)
• Black British Book Festival: BBBF x Pan Macmillan Publishing Collaboration (eligibility, process and AI policy)
• Black British Book Festival: Submission Guidelines
• Black British Book Festival: Our Biggest Festival Yet (October 11, 2026)