2026 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards Entries Open
Entries have opened for the 2026 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards, with a $120,000 prize pool celebrating writers, illustrators and publishers connected to WA.
Key details
- Entries are open until 6 March 2026 for works published between 1 January and 31 December 2025 in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, emerging writer, children’s and young adult categories.
- Category winners will compete for the Western Australian Book of the Year, the top honour in the program.
- The awards are administered by the State Library of Western Australia, which positions them as a way to connect readers with local stories and support the State’s literary ecosystem.
Awards and special prize
- The total prize pool of $120,000 will be distributed across eight categories, reflecting the breadth of contemporary writing in Western Australia.
- The Daisy Utemorrah Award for Unpublished Indigenous Junior and Young Adult Writing, sponsored and administered by Magabala Books, is open to Indigenous writers from across Australia.
Call for judges
- The State Library is also seeking readers, writers, booksellers, parents and library supporters to join the 2026 judging panel.
- Prospective judges must be available from March to July 2026, with application details, along with entry guidelines, available via the State Library’s website: www.slwa.wa.gov.au/premiersbookawards.
Government comments
- Premier Roger Cook describes the awards as a “vital platform” for showcasing local creativity and strengthening a vibrant creative economy through investment in cultural industries.
- Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk highlights the awards as one of the State’s most significant cultural honours, noting their role in elevating new voices and recognising writers who shape how Western Australians see themselves and the world.
