- Shortlist for the 2026 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards announced
- Awards celebrate and recognise the best of recent Western Australian writing
- Discover the shortlisted authors at Stories from the West, a one-day literary festival at the State Library of Western Australia
- Cook Labor Government fostering a vibrant and creative economy
More than 30 published authors and writers have been recognised in the 2026 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards shortlist.
Fantastical worlds, grim underbellies, and stories of place and identity make up this year’s shortlist, which reflects the richness and complexity of Western Australian storytelling.
The awards celebrate the best of Western Australian writing across six categories: fiction,
non-fiction, emerging, poetry, young adult, and children’s.
The winners will be announced in September and share in a prize pool of $120,000.
The 2026 shortlisted cohort includes past winners and finalists, recipients of national awards, and new, emerging voices.
In the lead up to the awards, the State Library of Western Australia will host Stories from the West, a one-day literary festival on Saturday, 8 August 2026, featuring panel conversations, book giveaways, and a chance to meet the shortlisted authors.
Visit the State Library’s website to see the shortlist and purchase tickets to Stories from the West: www.slwa.wa.gov.au/premiersbookawards
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“Western Australia has an incredible creative community, and my government is proud to celebrate the importance of storytelling through these awards.
“The books shortlisted for the Premier’s Book Awards showcase what it means to belong to and connect to a place like WA – and I know they stand up on the national stage too.
“Whether you’re a lifelong reader or you’ve been looking for a reason to get back into the habit of reading, I encourage all Western Australians to look up these titles and discover new voices in WA literature.”
As stated by Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk:
“Congratulations to the shortlisted authors across the many categories and genres. Readers will recognise established literary voices and be excited to discover new authors and emerging talent.
“This year’s shortlist demonstrates that some of the most compelling stories are those that emerge from the edges, challenge conventional narratives, and broaden our understanding of the Western Australian story.
“The Premier’s Book Awards shortlist shows that the state of writing and our creative industries in WA is strong and reminds us of the power of a good book.”
2026 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards Shortlist
Fiction Book of the Year
- Chance and Necessity: A Novel of Narrogin and Williams by Rosanne Dingli
- When She Was Gone by Sara Foster
- King of Dirt by Holden Sheppard
- I Am Nannertgarrook by Tasma Walton
- O’Keefe by David Whish-Wilson
Non-Fiction Book of the Year
- My FIGHT with PD: A Neurologist with Parkinson’s Disease by David Blacker
- No Time for Makeup: The Life of a Flying Doctor and Paediatrician by Dr Elizabeth Green
- How Not to Become a Grumpy Old Bugger: A Bloke’s Guide to Living a Better Life by Geoff Hutchinson
- The Shameful Isles: The True Story of North-West Australia’s Fatal Experiment with Medical Apartheid by David Price
- Tjukurrpa Kurranyu. Tjukurrpa in the Front: The Yarnangu foundation for joint management in the Pila Nature Reserve by Jan Turner & Lizzie Marrkilyi Giles Ellis
Emerging Writer of the Year
- CryBaby by Mabel Gibson
- Nock Loose by Patrick Marlborough
- The Montegiallo School of Swearing by Andrew HC McDonald
- Inner Demons by Stephen B. Platt
- Geraldine by Andrea Thompson
Children’s Book of the Year
- Creature Clinic by Gavin Aung Than
- Everglade 1: Rise of the Witch by Kitty Black
- Bigfoot vs Yeti by James Foley
- One Day by Shirley Marr & Michael Speechley
- The Surface Trials by H.M. Waugh
Young Adult Book of the Year
- Made of Steam and Star Dust by Bianca Breen
- A New World Rises: Tales of a LEGO Future by Cristy Burne, Jackson Harvey & Alex Towler
- A Murder is Going Down by Kate Emery
- Trapped! by Julia Lawrinson
- The Dreams of Summer Dartson by Peter Purchase
Poetry Book of the Year
- Gold Digger by Lisa Collyer
- The Twilight Observatory by Jennifer Kornberger
- The Hum Hearers by Shey Marque
- Past & Parallel Lives by Kaya Ortiz
