Call for Submissions: 2026 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism
Awardees will receive $5,000 unrestricted cash prize
PHILADELPHIA – The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is inviting journalists to submit their stories for the 2026 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism. This prestigious prize showcases outstanding examples of cancer journalism and recognizes professional journalists who have produced accurate, informative, and compelling stories that enhance the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, cancer advocacy, or cancer policy.
Each prize is accompanied by an unrestricted cash award of $5,000.
The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism is open to print, broadcast, and online professional journalists whose stories appear in media outlets that target lay public audiences.
Journalists may submit stories for consideration in four categories:
- Newspaper
- Magazine
- Online/multimedia
- Television/radio/podcasts
To be eligible for the 2026 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism, submissions must have been published or broadcast for the first time between December 1, 2024, and November 30, 2025. All submissions must be in English or accurately translated into English. Additional eligibility requirements are outlined under Application Instructions on the AACR website.
The deadline for submission is Monday, December 8, 2025. Journalists can submit a story easily through the streamlined submission process on the myAACR platform.
Submit a StoryThe 2026 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism presentation ceremony will take place during the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego, April 17-22.
This year’s judging panel will be composed of esteemed journalists, communications professors, cancer researchers, and patient advocates. Past panels have included journalists from The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle, FORTUNE, ABC News, NBC News, and NPR and PBS member stations. The prize is funded by a major bequest to the AACR from June L. Biedler, PhD, a scientist, mentor, pioneer in cancer research, and former member of the AACR Board of Directors.
A list of the 2025 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism recipients is available on the AACR website.
For more information, please visit the AACR website or contact Elizabeth Hubbard, senior administrative coordinator and staff liaison to the AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism, at [email protected].