Oxford Bookstores announced Bena Sareen as the winner of the 11th edition of Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize at a celebratory event hosted by Priti Paul, director Apeejay Surrendra Group and Alka Pande, museum curator, art historian, author and jury chair at the India Habitat Centre on 26 May 2026. The evening also featured the unveiling of the longlist for the 4th Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize, along with the exclusive launch of What if…Why Not? authored by Mohamed Maliki, Ambassador of the King of Morocco to India and published by Indie Press.
Bena Sareen was honored for her exceptional cover design of My Beloved Life by Amitava Kumar, published by Aleph Book Company. She was awarded with a trophy, certificate, and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. This marks her second win, having previously won the inaugural edition for her cover design of Talking of Justice by Leila Seth, also published by Aleph Book Company.
The award was presented by members of the jury comprising Alka Pande, museum curator, art historian, author and jury chair; Shashi Tharoor, author and member of parliament; Anja Riedeberger, director Information Services South Asia Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan; Samar Jodha, installation artist,mentor and TED Speaker.
Swagat Sengupta, CEO, Apeejay Oxford Bookstores presented the cheque to the winner in the distinguished presence of May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, Mohamed Maliki, The Ambassador of the King of Morocco to India; Apurva Kackar, director, Institutional Affairs and Outreach, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) alongside designers, publishers, authors, artists, diplomats and literary enthusiasts from across the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, Bena Sareen, winner of the 11th Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize said, “Ten years ago when this award was instituted, it marked a long-awaited recognition of the art of book cover design. While our canvas is small, it is central to the life cycle of a book. A heartfelt thanks to the Oxford Bookstore and this incredibly distinguished jury for recognizing and celebrating this art form. Oxford Bookstore was indeed the first to institute a cover prize; many others followed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Aleph book Company for trusting my aesthetics over the years. Many thanks to Amitav Kumar for bringing the joy in the creation process of this cover with his fantastic novel. I’m honoured and thrilled to be the recipient of the 11th award.”
In addition to the winning cover, the jury also recognized two outstanding covers for their compelling visual language and innovative graphic expression. The honored designers included Shadab Khan for The Remains of the Body published by Vintage-an imprint of Penguin Random House; and Pinaki De for Carnival published by Aleph Book Company.
Alka Pande remarked, “As we celebrate the landmark 11th edition of the Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize, I am filled with immense pride in witnessing how this award has evolved into a powerful force in visual culture, bringing book designers from behind the scenes into the spotlight they deserve. This prize continues to shape and elevate the Indian publishing industry by recognizing book cover design as a masterful art form and honors its creative visionaries, who remained largely invisible despite their profound influence on how stories are perceived and remembered.
“My heartfelt congratulations to Bena Sareen for taking home the prize yet again; a truly well- deserved victory after almost a decade. I also extend my wishes to the 16 outstanding titles longlisted for the 4th Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize. Together, these two awards have significantly impacted the publishing landscape by encouraging innovation in book design, championing visual storytelling, and creating greater recognition and visibility for artistic excellence within the literary world.”.
The evening further marked the announcement of the longlist for the 4th Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize. 16 longlisted titles were unveiled by jury members, Alka Pande, May-Elin Stener and Apurva Kackar. The selected books were recognized by the jury panel for their artistic excellence, visual storytelling and overall design sensibility.
The celebrations wrapped up with Shashi Tharoor officially launching What if…Why Not? by Mohamed Maliki. The unveiling was followed by a conversation about the book between the author, Shashi Tharoor and Alka Pande.
4th Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize Longlist
From the Depth of the Mould: Meera Mukherjee (1923-1998), A Centenary Tribute, edited by Tapati Guha-Thakurta and published by Jadavpur University Press and Galerie 88
A Treasury of Life: Indian Company Paintings c. 1790-1835, edited by Giles Tillotson and published by DAG
Roop and the River Crossing by Samina Mishra, illustrated by Shivam Choudhary and published by Puffin Books: An imprint of Penguin Random House India
Histories in the Making: Photographing Indian Monuments 1855-1920, edited by Sudeshna Guha and published by DAG
The Big Book of Indian Art: An Illustrated History of Indian Art from Its Origins to the Present Day by Bina Sarkar Ellias and published by Aleph Book Company
The Little Book of Big Girl Things by Akshara Ashok, and published by Penguin Random House India
Gardens of Delhi by Swapna Liddle & Madhulika Liddle with photographs by Prabhas Roy, and published by Niyogi Books
The Dandelions Have It by Sohini Sen, and published by Penprints Publication
Kalakari: A Journey Through Indian Folk Art by Simran Tapadia, and published by Pan Macmillan India
Longform 2025: An Anthology of Graphic Narratives by Pinaki De, Debkumar Mitra and Argha Manna, and published by Vintage: An imprint of Penguin Random House India
Zoraver and the Lost Gods by Abeer Kapoor, illustrated by Ujan Dutta, and published by Bloomsbury Publishing India
The Bird, a Bone and other Witnesses of a Museum Fire by Sahil Naik, and published by Prameya Art Foundation and Roli Books
Ram Singh Urveti: Another Master by Anubhav Nath, published by Ojas Art
Dasa Mahavidya: Gesture, Form, and the Divine Feminine, edited by Anubhav Nath, and published by Ojas Art
The Boy Who Built A Secret Garden: Nek Chand by Lavanya Karthik, published by Duckbill Books: An imprint of Penguin Random House India
Go Wild: Stories, Essays and Comics that Celebrate Our Earth, curated by Bijal Vachharajani, and published by Puffin Books: An imprint of Penguin Random House India
