2026 Caldecott Medal

The 2026 Caldecott Medal went to Fireworks, illustrated by Cátia Chien and written by Matthew Burgess. The selection committee also named four Caldecott Honor Books: Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan, Our Lake by Angie Kang, Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer, and Sundust by Zeke Peña. Each of the four honor books was both written and illustrated by its creator. The medal recognizes the artist behind the year's most distinguished picture book from an American publisher. The results were announced on January 26, 2026, at the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards.