Six Australian Books Win the 2026 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards

Canberra — Six Australian books have been named winners of the 2026 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards across the Australian History, Children’s Literature, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry and Young Adult Literature categories.

The winning books are The Southern Frontier by Rohan Howitt, Melbourne University Publishing; Song of a Thousand Seas by Zana Fraillon, University of Queensland Press; A Piece of Red Cloth by Leonie Norrington, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs, Djawa Burarrwanga and Djawundil Maymuru published by Allen & Unwin; The Red House by Kate Wild, Allen & Unwin; Two Hundred Million Musketeers by Ender Başkan, Giramondo Publishing and Drift by Pip Harry, Hachette Australia.

The winners were revealed at a ceremony at the National Library of Australia in Canberra on Thursday, 10 September 2026, with Writing Australia describing the winning books as a reflection of the breadth, skill and vitality of original Australian storytelling.

“These remarkable books show Australian storytelling at its finest, illuminating our past, drawing us into lives beyond our own, and helping us imagine the world anew.

“Writing Australia is proud to celebrate the extraordinary craft and originality of this year’s winners,” said Writing Australia Director, Wenona Byrne, during the ceremony.

Also, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated the winners, saying their work demonstrated the “depth and diversity” of Australian literature.

“Our stories connect us across generations, cultures and communities, and allow the world to see Australia through Australian eyes.

“My Government is proud to support the writers, illustrators, poets and historians whose creativity makes such an important contribution to Australia,” Albanese said.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, also acknowledged the writers’ talent, saying the awards highlighted some of Australia’s best literary talent on the national stage.

Rohan Howitt won the Australian History category for The Southern Frontier, his first book which explores Australia’s fascination with Antarctica and its ambitions to explore and control the region.

Zana Fraillon won Children’s Literature for Song of a Thousand Seas, a verse novel about Houdini, a nine-brained octopus who longs to return to the wild and forms a friendship with a girl named Juno.

Pip Harry won Young Adult Literature for Drift, following teenagers Nate and Luna as they navigate personal challenges after 20,000 bees settle inside Nate’s family home.

The Fiction award went to A Piece of Red Cloth, which draws on Yolŋu oral history to tell a story of community, resilience and encounters with Macassan trepang fishers.

Kate Wild won Non-fiction forThe Red House, examining the shooting of Kumanjayi Walker and the trial of police officer Zachary Rolfe.

Melbourne poet Ender Başkan won Poetry for Two Hundred Million Musketeers, his debut collection exploring parenthood, childhood and family history.

The six winners shared a total of AU$480,000 in prize money, with each category winner receiving AU$80,000 tax-free.

The awards have a total tax-free prize pool of AU$600,000, including AU$5,000 for up to four shortlisted entries in each category.

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards were established in 2008 to recognise excellence in Australian literature, initially covering fiction and non-fiction.

Children’s and young adult literature were added in 2010, poetry in 2012, while the existing Prime Minister’s Prize for Australian History was later incorporated into the awards.

Previous winners include Tara June Winch, Omar Sakr, Gerald Murnane, Nam Le, Judith Brett and Jessica Au.