Queensland Literary Awards

Queensland Literary Awards The Queensland Literary Awards (QLAs) celebrate outstanding books by Australian authors and champion new writing from emerging Queensland writers.

The 2026 ceremony will be held on Thursday 8 October as part of the Brisbane Writers Festival. The Queensland Literary Awards (QLA) was established in 2012 by a not-for-profit association of passionate Queensland volunteers and advocates for literature. The Awards recognise and reward outstanding Australian writers. The 2012 and 2013 Awards were made possible by the generosity and commitment of ma

ny partners, donors and volunteers, and this grassroots approach resulted in significant engagement with the community and the industry. Following consultation with the QLA Governing Committee, 2014 has seen the management of the QLA transition to the State Library of Queensland (SLQ). In 2015 Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the Queensland Government would once again provide ongoing support for the Awards. SLQ proudly manages the Queensland Literary Awards in collaboration with sponsors, industry partners and the writing community.

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Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Queensland Premier's Regional Writer and Publisher Award. Congratulations to the sh...
29/07/2026

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Queensland Premier's Regional Writer and Publisher Award. Congratulations to the shortlisted writers and publishers!

Ian McIntosh
Terry Phillips
Abi Stephenson

Supported by Arts Queensland

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Queensland Premier's Young Writer and Publisher Award. Congratulations to all the s...
29/07/2026

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Queensland Premier's Young Writer and Publisher Award. Congratulations to all the shortlisted writers and publishers!

Emily Lighezzolo
Waverley Stanley Jr
Svetlana Sterlin
Grace Wilson

Supported by Arts Queensland

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Manuscript Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer. Congratulations to all the shor...
29/07/2026

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Manuscript Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer. Congratulations to all the shortlisted writers!

Clean by Jing Cram
The Passion Hunters by Helen Crampton
Best Served Cold by Sonya Gellert
Crew Cut by Helen Kenny
The Cult by Kate Mayne

UQP

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the David Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Writer...
29/07/2026

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the David Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Writer. Congratulations to the shortlisted writers!

The South Paddock by Rick Slager
When the Circle Speaks by Lukas Williams

Supported by the Copyright Agency

UQP

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the The Lord Mayor of Brisbane’s People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award. Con...
29/07/2026

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the The Lord Mayor of Brisbane’s People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors!

Now the decision is over to YOU! Vote for your favourite via the QLA website: https://bwf.org.au/queensland-literary-awards/peoples-choice-award-voting

Rise & Shine by Kimberley Allsopp

People Powered Radio: Fifty Years of Australian Community Radio Station 4ZZZ by Heather Anderson

The Sceret Year of Zara Holt By Kimberley Freeman

Honeyeater by Kathleen Jennings

Average At Best by Astrid Jorgensen

Mary Penfold by Grantlee Kieza

Two Islands by Ian Kemish

Melaleuca by Angie Faye Martin

In a Common Hour by Sita Walker

The Nocturnals by Frances Whiting


Sponsored by Brisbane City Council

Pan Macmillan Australia Simon & Schuster Australia UQP Ultimo Press HarperCollins Books Australia

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Steele Rudd Award for a Short Story Collection. Congratulations to all the shortlis...
29/07/2026

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Steele Rudd Award for a Short Story Collection. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors!

Playing Nice Was Getting Me Nowhere by Alex Cothren

U Want It Darker by Murray Middleton

Wait Here by Lucy Nelson

Mother Salad by Helena Pantsis

Read the judges' comments:
https://bwf.org.au/queensland-literary-awards/2026-shortlists

Pan Macmillan Australia Simon & Schuster Australia UWA Publishing

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Judith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry Collection. Congratulations to all the sh...
29/07/2026

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Judith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry Collection. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors!

KONTRA by Eunice Andrada

Leaves Fall Off to Create Drama by Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle

Shark of Messina by Liam Ferney

Jack Mundey in Red Square by James Lucas

A Savage Turn by Luke Patterson

Read the judges' comments: https://bwf.org.au/queensland-literary-awards/2026-shortlists

Supported by the Copyright Agency

Hunter Publishers Recent Work Press Magabala Books

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Children's Book Award. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors! One Koala, O...
29/07/2026

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Children's Book Award. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors!

One Koala, One Hundred Trees by Leesa Allinson, Heather Potter, Mark Jackson

Myra in the Middle by Seetha Dodd, Peter Cheong

The Midlands by Kate Gordon

Once I was a Giant by Zeno Sworder

Ruby's Web by Ellen van Neerven


Read the judges' comments: https://bwf.org.au/queensland-literary-awards/2026-shortlists

UQP Riveted Press Magabala Books

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Young Adult Book Award. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors! Once Upon T...
29/07/2026

Presenting the QLA shortlist for the Young Adult Book Award. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors!

Once Upon Tomorrow by Karen Comer

This Season's Draft by Jason Gent

Good Young Men by Gary Lonesborough

The Belly of a Wolf by Julianne Negri

Tearing Myself Together by Anna Whateley

Supported by The University of Queensland

Read the judges' comments: https://bwf.org.au/queensland-literary-awards/2026-shortlists

Hachette Children's Books ANZ Allen & Unwin Books UWA Publishing

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