BISAC Subject Headings List

Use the information provided here to determine the specific codes that describe your book. An asterisk (*) denotes a new heading for the current year’s edition. Not sure how to select your code? Check out our FAQ.

If you can't find the code you're looking for after reviewing all the pages below, we recommend you use whatever codes currently best represent your book. If you want to propose a new code for future BISAC additions, you can submit a suggestion here.

To download and incorporate this list into your databases and systems, you’ll need to purchase an End Users' License Agreement. 

PERFORMING ARTS

Use subjects beginning with "PERFORMING ARTS / Theater" for works on drama as performed on the stage and use "PERFORMING ARTS / Screenplays" for dramatic works written for film or television.  Use subjects in the DRAMA section for dramatic works written for the stage.

PER000000   PERFORMING ARTS / General

PER001000   PERFORMING ARTS / Acting & Auditioning

PER017000   PERFORMING ARTS / Animation (see also Film / Genres / Animated)

                                PERFORMING ARTS / Broadway & Musicals see Theater / Broadway & Musicals

PER014000   PERFORMING ARTS / Business Aspects

PER002000   PERFORMING ARTS / Circus

PER015000   PERFORMING ARTS / Comedy

PER003000   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / General

PER003090   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Ballroom

PER003050   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Choreography & Dance Notation

PER003010   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Classical & Ballet

PER003020   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Folk

PER003100   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / History & Criticism

PER003030   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Jazz

PER003040   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Modern

PER003060   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Popular

PER003070   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Reference

PER021000   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Regional & Cultural

PER003080   PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Tap

PER024000   PERFORMING ARTS / Drag

PER004000   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / General

PER004010   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Direction & Production

PER004060   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / General

PER004070   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Action & Adventure

PER004080   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Animated

PER004090   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Comedy

PER004100   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Crime

PER004110   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Documentary

PER004120   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Historical

PER004130   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Horror

PER004170   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Musicals

PER004140   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Science Fiction & Fantasy

PER004180   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Superheroes

PER004150   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Westerns

PER004020   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Guides & Reviews

PER004030   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / History & Criticism

PER004040   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Reference

PER004160   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Regional & National

PER004050   PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Screenwriting

PER022000   PERFORMING ARTS / Improvisation

PER018000   PERFORMING ARTS / Individual Director (see also BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Entertainment & Performing Arts)

                                  PERFORMING ARTS / Mass Media see SOCIAL SCIENCE / Media Studies

                                  PERFORMING ARTS / Miming see Theater / Miming

                              PERFORMING ARTS / Performance Art see ART / Performance *

PER007000   PERFORMING ARTS / Puppets & Puppetry

PER008000   PERFORMING ARTS / Radio / General

PER008010   PERFORMING ARTS / Radio / History & Criticism

PER008020   PERFORMING ARTS / Radio / Reference

PER009000   PERFORMING ARTS / Reference

PER016000   PERFORMING ARTS / Screenplays

PER019000   PERFORMING ARTS / Storytelling

PER010000   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / General

PER010010   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Direction & Production

PER010060   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Genres / General

PER010120   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Genres / Animated

PER010070   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Genres / Children's

PER010080   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Genres / Comedy

PER010130   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Genres / Documentary

PER010090   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Genres / Drama

PER010100   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Genres / Reality, Game Shows & Talk Shows

PER010110   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Genres / Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror

PER010140   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Genres / Superheroes

PER010020   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Guides & Reviews

PER010030   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / History & Criticism

PER010040   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Reference

PER010050   PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Screenwriting

PER011000   PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / General

PER013000   PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / Broadway & Musicals

PER011010   PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / Direction & Production

PER011050   PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / Dramaturgy

PER011020   PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / History & Criticism

PER006000   PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / Miming

PER011030   PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / Playwriting

PER011060   PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / Reference

PER011070   PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / Regional & National

PER011040   PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / Stagecraft & Scenography

                                PERFORMING ARTS / Video see headings under Film

PER023000  PERFORMING ARTS / Voice Acting

If your title does not have subject content, i.e. a blank book, please use the Non-Classifiable term below. Otherwise, use the Subject/General term in the closest descriptive area. NON000000 NON-CLASSIFIABLE

© 2024, Book Industry Study Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of these lists or any attached documents may be distributed or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the Book Industry Study Group, Inc.