Some of Australia’s most celebrated authors and exciting new literary voices have been recognised in the 2026 Queensland Literary Awards (QLAs), with Queensland recipients securing nine of the 15 accolades presented.
More than $200,000 in prize money was awarded across eight published book awards, four development awards and three Queensland Writers Fellowships, recognising excellence in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s and young adult literature while supporting emerging writers and publishers.
The winning works reflect the breadth and depth of Australian storytelling, exploring history, identity, family, culture, belonging, and the people and places that shape our lives.
Queensland Literary Awards Director Jackie Ryan said this year’s winners reflected the strength and diversity of Australian writing, as well as the vitality of Queensland’s literary community.
“Congratulations to this year’s Queensland Literary Awards winners and shortlisted writers.
“We’re thrilled with the response to the Lord Mayor’s People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award, which shows how strongly readers connect with local books. It was wonderful to see Queensland readers get behind the writers and stories they love.”
Minister for Education and the Arts, the Honourable John-Paul Langbroek, said:
“It is fitting that the Queensland Literary Awards are part of the opening celebrations of this year’s Brisbane Writer’s Festival, and I congratulate all finalists on their diverse and valued contributions to the sector.
“The Brisbane Writer’s Festival enriches our lives and enhances our state’s reputation as a creative powerhouse, helping to deliver on our Queensland’s Time to Shine strategy with a focus on strengthening arts careers, celebrating our storytellers and sharing our stories with national and international audiences.
“I am also pleased to announce the latest recipients of the three 2026 Queensland Writers Fellowships, which will provide three early-career writers with financial support and professional development to complete a writing project.”
The winners of the 2026 Queensland Literary Awards are:
PUBLISHED BOOK AWARDS
Queensland Premier’s Award for a Work of State Significance
Supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland
The Pearl of Tagai Town by Lenora Thaker
Text Publishing
Steele Rudd Award for a Short Story Collection
Mother Salad by Helena Pantsis
UWA Publishing
Judith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry Collection
Supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund
KONTRA by Eunice Andrada
Giramondo Publishing
Children’s Book Award
Once I Was a Giant by Zeno Sworder
Thames & Hudson Australia
Young Adult Book Award
Supported by The University of Queensland
The Belly of a Wolf by Julianne Negri
UWA Publishing
Fiction Book Award
Supported by The University of Queensland
On Not Climbing Mountains by Claire Thomas
Hachette Australia
Non-fiction Book Award
Supported by The University of Queensland
Find Me at the Jaffa Gate by Micaela Sahhar
NewSouth Publishing
Lord Mayor’s People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award
Supported by Brisbane City Council
In a Common Hour by Sita Walker
Ultimo Press
DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
Manuscript Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer
The Passion Hunters by Helen Crampton
David Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Writer
Supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund
When the Circle Speaks by Lukas Williams
Queensland Premier’s Regional Writer and Publisher Award
Supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland
Abi Stephenson
Queensland Premier’s Young Writer and Publisher Award
Supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland
Svetlana Sterlin
QUEENSLAND WRITERS FELLOWSHIPS
Supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland
Charlotte Barkla
Melanie Myers
Gavin Yuan Gao
