17+ Top Nonfiction Publishers Accepting Submissions 2026 [Updated List]

In 2026, the nonfiction market has shifted toward “high-authority” and “problem-solving” narratives. Unlike fiction, where a complete manuscript is often required, nonfiction is typically sold on a Book Proposal. This means your success depends on proving your expertise, defining a clear market, and showcasing a logical, authoritative structure.

Below is a definitive guide to 17 nonfiction publishers accepting unagented submissions in 2026, detailed with the metrics you need to navigate the submission process successfully.

Your Expert Partner: Adept Ghostwriting

Nonfiction publishing is inherently competitive because you are not just selling a story; you are selling authority. In 2026, publishers are flooded with AI-summarized content, making authentic, human-led expertise more valuable than ever.

Adept Ghostwriting is your strategic “Helping Hand” in this landscape. We specialize in transforming raw ideas, data, and life experiences into industry-standard book proposals and manuscripts.

• The Power Proposal: We don’t just write chapters; we build the marketing case for your book, including competitive analysis and audience targeting that editors at houses like Beacon Press or Chronicle Books demand.

• Subject Matter Mastery: Our writers are experts at capturing your unique voice, whether you are a CEO, a scientist, or a memoirist, ensuring the prose is as authoritative as your ideas.

• Bridge to Publication: We bridge the gap between “expert in the field” and “published author,” providing the professional polish that moves a proposal from the slush pile to the editorial board.

Elevate your authority with Adept Publishing

Top 17+ Nonfiction Publishers Accepting Submissions (2026)

1. Chronicle Books (San Francisco)

A powerhouse for visually driven and lifestyle nonfiction. They are the gold standard for books that are as much “objects of art” as they are sources of information.

• Detailed Description: Chronicle seeks books with a unique “gift” appeal—high-end design, innovative formats, and trendy topics.

• Accepting Genres: Cookbooks, Design, Lifestyle, Pop Culture, Art, and Parenting.

• Service Rating: 4.9/5.

• Acceptance/Rejection Rating: Low acceptance (Very selective on aesthetic).

• Prices: Traditional (Advances and Royalties).

• Geographic Reach: Global Retail & Museum Shops.

• Submission Date: Open Year-Round (Digital proposals preferred).

2. Beacon Press (Boston)

A legendary independent house (associated with the Unitarian Universalist Association) that focuses on “serious” nonfiction that changes the world.

• Detailed Description: They look for scholarly yet accessible works that address social justice, history, and political philosophy.

• Accepting Genres: Social Justice, History, Religion, Environmental Issues, and Cultural Criticism.

• Service Rating: 4.9/5.

• Acceptance/Rejection Rating: Low (Requires high academic or social authority).

• Prices: Traditional.

• Geographic Reach: International.

• Submission Date: Open Year-Round via their online portal.

3. Mango Publishing (Miami)

The most “modern” publisher on this list, Mango uses social media data and digital trends to drive their acquisitions.

• Detailed Description: They are incredibly author-centric and look for writers who already have an active digital “platform.”

• Accepting Genres: Self-Help, Productivity, Wellness, Humor, and Inspirational Memoir.

• Service Rating: 4.7/5.

• Acceptance/Rejection Rating: Moderate (High for authors with large social followings).

• Prices: Traditional (Strong digital marketing support).

• Geographic Reach: Global Digital & Print.

• Submission Date: Open Year-Round via Submittable.

4. Skyhorse Publishing (Manhattan)

One of the fastest-growing independent publishers in America, known for their “all-inclusive” approach to nonfiction.

• Detailed Description: Skyhorse is broad and aggressive, often picking up topical books that other houses might find too niche or controversial.

• Accepting Genres: True Crime, Politics, Health, Nature, and Reference.

• Service Rating: 4.3/5.

• Acceptance/Rejection Rating: Moderate.

• Prices: Traditional / Hybrid options.

• Geographic Reach: Global.

• Submission Date: Rolling.

5. BenBella Books (Dallas)

A marketing-focused boutique house that is highly attractive to business leaders and professional speakers.

• Detailed Description: They are known for providing the distribution power of the Big Five with the personal attention of a small agency.

• Accepting Genres: Business, Leadership, Health, Nutrition (The “China Study” publisher).

• Service Rating: 4.8/5.

• Acceptance/Rejection Rating: Selective (Focus on “bestseller potential”).

• Prices: Traditional (Distributed by Penguin Random House).

• Geographic Reach: International.

• Submission Date: Rolling.

6. Kensington (Citadel Press)

The nonfiction arm of the major independent Kensington Publishing Corp.

• Detailed Description: Citadel focuses on commercial nonfiction—books that have a clear, popular appeal for the general reader.

• Accepting Genres: Self-Help, True Crime, Popular History, and Current Events.

• Service Rating: 4.7/5.

• Acceptance/Rejection Rating: Competitive.

• Prices: Traditional.

• Geographic Reach: North America & International Rights.

• Submission Date: Open Year-Round (Queries first).

7. Chicago Review Press

A stalwart of independent publishing that seeks deep-dive, high-quality research.

• Detailed Description: They look for “narrative nonfiction”—true stories that read with the pacing and character depth of a novel.

• Accepting Genres: Music, Film, History, Civil Rights, and Women’s Studies.

• Service Rating: 4.8/5.

• Acceptance/Rejection Rating: Low (Requires rigorous research).

• Prices: Traditional.

• Geographic Reach: Global.

• Submission Date: Open Year-Round (Proposals preferred).

8. Workman Publishing (Hachette Group)

Famous for their “big ideas” and educational books, Workman is now backed by the massive resources of Hachette.

• Detailed Description: They are the home of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. They look for “evergreen” books that sell for decades.

• Accepting Genres: Parenting, Education, Cookbooks, Humor, and Gift Books.

• Service Rating: 4.9/5.

• Acceptance/Rejection Rating: Selective.

• Prices: Traditional.

• Geographic Reach: Global.

• Submission Date: Rolling (Check specific imprint guidelines).

9. Page Street Publishing

Known for their stunning full-color books and high-impact visual layouts.

• Detailed Description: If your project needs to look as good as it reads, Page Street is a top-tier target.

• Accepting Genres: Cookbooks, Crafts, Specialty Hobbies, and Visual Gift Books.

• Service Rating: 4.6/5.

• Acceptance/Rejection Rating: Moderate for high-visual projects.

• Prices: Traditional (Distributed by Macmillan).

• Geographic Reach: Worldwide (Except Canada).

• Submission Date: Rolling.

10. Persea Books (Manhattan)

A prestigious independent house that focuses on the “human” side of nonfiction.

• Detailed Description: They champion diverse voices and stories that provide a window into different cultures or historical moments.

• Accepting Genres: Memoir, Essays, Biography, and Cultural Studies.

• Service Rating: 4.9/5.

• Acceptance/Rejection Rating: Selective (Literary quality is paramount).

• Prices: Traditional.

• Geographic Reach: Global.

• Submission Date: Open Year-Round (Proposals via Submittable).

Nonfiction Publishing Metrics Table

Publisher	Key Strength	Submission Type	Reach	Acceptance
Chronicle	Visual Design	Proposal	Global	1.5%
Beacon	Social Justice	Proposal	International	2%
Mango	Digital Marketing	Proposal	Global Digital	5%
BenBella	Business Reach	Proposal	International	3%
Skyhorse	Topical Velocity	Query/Proposal	Global	10%

11. ECW Press (Canada)

One of the most versatile independent publishers in North America.

• Accepting Genres: True Crime, Sports, Pop Science, and Biography.

• Service Rating: 4.6/5.

• Geographic Reach: Global (Strongest in US/Canada).

• Submission Date: Rolling.

12. Seven Stories Press

A house dedicated to radical politics and free speech.

• Accepting Genres: Political Analysis, Social Issues, Human Rights.

• Service Rating: 4.7/5.

• Geographic Reach: International.

• Submission Date: Open Year-Round (Mail only).

13. Oneworld Publications (UK)

A London-based house that publishes intellectually stimulating books for a global audience.

• Accepting Genres: History, Politics, Psychology, and Philosophy.

• Service Rating: 4.8/5.

• Geographic Reach: Global.

• Submission Date: Open (Submission form required).

14. Llewellyn Worldwide

The world’s oldest and largest independent publisher of New Age and metaphysical books.

• Accepting Genres: Spirituality, Astrology, Wellness, and Occult.

• Service Rating: 4.5/5.

• Geographic Reach: Global.

• Submission Date: Open Year-Round.

15. Lyons Press

An imprint of Globe Pequot that focuses on the “great outdoors” and American history.

• Accepting Genres: Fishing, Hunting, Military History, Nature, and True Crime.

• Service Rating: 4.5/5.

• Geographic Reach: North America.

• Submission Date: Rolling.

16. Black Inc. (Australia)

A premier Australian publisher looking for world-class ideas.

• Accepting Genres: Current Affairs, Biography, and Criticism.

• Service Rating: 4.7/5.

• Geographic Reach: Oceania and International.

• Submission Date: Rolling (Australian residents/citizens preferred).

17. Koehler Books

A high-quality hybrid publisher that offers a traditional path for top-tier manuscripts.

• Accepting Genres: Business, Self-Help, Memoir, and Military.

• Service Rating: 4.4/5.

• Geographic Reach: Global.

• Submission Date: Open Year-Round.

Conclusion: Claiming Your Authority

In 2026, the barrier to entry for nonfiction is your platform and your polish. Publishers aren’t just buying your book; they are buying into you as a credible source of information.

At Adept Ghostwriting, we specialize in making that credibility undeniable. We take your expertise and package it into a professional proposal that answers every question a publisher has before they even ask it.

Are you ready to turn your knowledge into a legacy?

Contact Adept Ghostwriting today and let’s secure your spot on the nonfiction bestseller lists.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I need a finished manuscript to submit nonfiction in 2026?

No. Most traditional and independent publishers prefer a Book Proposal. This document acts as a business plan for your book, containing a market analysis, your author platform, a detailed chapter outline, and 2–3 sample chapters. Publishers want to see the “commercial map” before you finish the journey.

2. Is it true that major publishers won’t look at “unagented” work?

While the “Big Five” (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, etc.) generally require agents, many of their specialized imprints and dozens of high-tier independent houses (like those on our lists) now have “Open Door” windows. In 2026, a high-quality proposal can often bypass the need for an agent in boutique or mid-size houses.

3. What is “Author Platform,” and why does every publisher ask for it?

Your platform is your “built-in” audience. It includes your social media following, email list, speaking engagements, and professional credentials. Publishers use this to gauge how many books you can sell on day one without their help. If your platform is weak, Adept Ghostwriting can help you emphasize your “Authority” instead.

4. How long should a nonfiction book be in 2026?

The trend is moving toward “concise authority.” While memoirs still range from 70,000 to 90,000 words, business and self-help books are increasingly popular in the 40,000 to 60,000-word range. Quality and “actionable value” now matter more than page count.

5. What is the difference between Traditional and Hybrid publishing?

• Traditional: They pay you (an advance) and cover all costs, but take more of the profit.

• Hybrid: You share the costs (production/design) in exchange for much higher royalty rates (often 50%+) and more creative control.

6. Can a ghostwriter help with my publishing contract?

While ghostwriters are not attorneys, a professional firm like Adept Ghostwriting can review your “deal memo” to ensure the scope of work and delivery dates are realistic based on the manuscript’s complexity.