A tribute is more than a justification. It is a short narrative about a cult and its community – carefully researched, backed by sources and written in a language worthy of its subject.

The verdict

One sentence that records why the jury nominates.

The overture

A narrative opening that lets you feel the cult: a sound, an image, a memory.

The seven criteria

Time, community, ritual, language, character, memory and impact – each with evidence.

The cult community

Who swears by this cult, how they meet and what binds them together.

Key facts and sources

Dates, places and people, with sources and the status of research.

Publication

The tributes appear one after another over the course of the year – each after its personal presentation.

Your vote counts.

The Cult Letter reminds you when the public vote begins.