The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards has today unveiled the shortlist of outstanding works vying for one of Australia’s richest literary prizes in 2026.
Administered by The Wheeler Centre on behalf of the Victorian Government, the VPLAs’ $292,000 prize pool celebrates excellence in Australian literature across seven main categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Writing for Young Adults, Children’s Literature and Indigenous Writing, with an additional prize dedicated to an Unpublished Manuscript.
In a special tribute to the acclaimed writer, teacher and mentor, this year’s Writing for Young Adults category will be awarded in honour of John Marsden. The renaming acknowledges Marsden’s profound influence on generations of young readers and writers, and his significant contributions in championing the development of Australian young adult literature, education and storytelling.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Melbourne and live-streamed on The Wheeler Centre website on Wednesday 25 February 2026.
2026 VICTORIAN PREMIER’S LITERARY AWARDS SHORTLISTS
Prize for Fiction
A Piece of Red Cloth by Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubb, Leonie Norrington, Djawa Burarrwanga and Djawundil Maymuru (Allen & Unwin)
Cannon by Lee Lai (Giramondo Publishing)
Fierceland by Omar Musa (Penguin Random House Australia)
The Gowkaran Tree in the Middle of Our Kitchen by Shokoofeh Azar (Europa Editions)
The Immigrants: Fabula Mirabilis, or A Wonderful Story by Moreno Giovannoni (Black Inc.)
The Sun was Electric Light by Rachel Morton (University of Queensland Press)
Prize for Non-Fiction
Ankami by Debra Dank (Echo Publishing)
Conspiracy Nation by Cam Wilson and Ariel Bogle (Ultimo Press)
Find Me at the Jaffa Gate: An encyclopaedia of a Palestinian family by Micaela Sahhar (NewSouth)
Looking from the North: Australian history from the top down by Henry Reynolds (NewSouth)
The Eagle and the Crow by JM Field (University of Queensland Press)
Prize for Poetry
KONTRA by Eunice Andrada (Giramondo Publishing)
The Rot by Evelyn Araluen (University of Queensland Press)
Two Hundred Million Musketeers by Ender Başkan (Giramondo Publishing)
Prize for Drama
Fly Girl by Genevieve Hegney & Catherine Moore (Ensemble Theatre Company and Lisa Mann Creative Management)
Super by Emilie Collyer (Currency Press and Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre)
The Black Woman of Gippsland by Andrea James (Currency Press & Melbourne Theatre Company)
Prize for Indigenous Writing
The Rot by Evelyn Araluen (University of Queensland Press)
The Eagle & the Crow by JM Field (University of Queensland Press)
The Art of Kaylene Whiskey: Do You Believe in Love edited by Natalie King and Iwantja Arts (Thames & Hudson)
Windows and Mirrors by Djon Mundine (Art Ink)
Prize for Children’s Literature
Once I Was a Giant by Zeno Sworder (Thames and Hudson Australia)
Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles by Corey Tutt and Ben Williams (Allen & Unwin)
Creature Clinic by Gavin Aung Than (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe by Karen Foxlee (Allen & Unwin)
John Marsden Prize for Writing for Young Adults
This Stays Between Us by Margo McGovern (Penguin Random House Australia)
Moonlight & Dust by Jasmin McGaughey (Allen & Unwin)
How to Be Normal by Ange Crawford (Walker Books Australia)
Prize for Unpublished Manuscript
Incognito by Anatolij Lisov
The Final Voyage of Charles Le Corre by William Paine
The Kookaburra by Charlotte Guest
HIGHLY COMMENDED WORKS
Prize for Fiction
Discipline by Randa Abdel-Fattah (University of Queensland Press)
Desolation by Asgari Hossein (Ultimo Press)
The Slip by Miriam Webster (Aniko Press)
Prize for Poetry
Fivehundred Swimming Pools by Connor Weightman (Rabbit Poetry)
The Dingo’s Noctuary by Judith Nangala Crispin (Puncher and Wattmann)
Prize for Indigenous Writing
A Savage Turn by Luke Patterson (Magabala)
Old Days Imanka nurna laakinha nitjaarta by Marjorie ‘Nunga’ Williams (Magabala)
Weaving Country by Aunty Kim Wandin and Christine Joy (Walker Books)
Prize for Children’s Literature
My Mum is a Bird by Angie Cui (University of Queensland Press)
Spirit of the Crocodile by Aaron Fa’aoso, Lyn White and Michelle Scott Tucker (Allen & Unwin)
John Marsden Prize for Writing for Young Adults
Weaving Us Together by Lay Maloney (Hachette Australia)
Strange Bedfellows by Ariel Ries (HarperCollins)
Prize for Unpublished Manuscript
Harmony by Ethan Garraway
More Real by Ella Mittas
Judges’ reports for each category are available here.
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