The 2026 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards (VPLAs) shortlist has been announced, with outstanding works now vying for one of Australia’s richest literary prizes.
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Drama, Writing for Young Adults, Children’s Literature and Indigenous Writing, with an additional prize dedicated to an Unpublished Manuscript.
This year’s shortlisted titles reflect the depth, diversity and innovation of Australia’s literary sector, with the nation’s small independent presses as well as First Nations authors being particularly well represented across the selection.
The winners of the Fiction, Non-Fiction, Drama, Poetry, Indigenous Writing, Children’s Literature and Writing for Young Adults categories each receive $25,000.
In a special tribute to the acclaimed writer, teacher and mentor, the 2026 Writing for Young Adults category is awarded in honour of John Marsden. This 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.
The Award for an Unpublished Manuscript carries $15,000 in prize money and includes a two-week creative residency at McCraith House in Dromana, delivered in partnership with RMIT Culture and The Wheeler Centre.
All category winners will also be contenders for the Victorian Prize for Literature – one of Australia’s richest single literary awards, worth an additional $100,000.
Voting is also now open for the People’s Choice Award, with shortlisted and highly commended titles eligible for the $2,000 prize. Readers across the country are invited to cast their votes via The Wheeler Centre website.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Melbourne and live-streamed on The Wheeler Centre website on Wednesday 25 February 2026.
For more information and to read the judges' reports for each category, visit wheelercentre.com
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 Azar Shokoofeh (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 and 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 Hossein Asgari (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)
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