- Entries now open for the 2026 Western Australian Premier's Book Awards
- $120,000 in prizes to be awarded to the best of WA writing
- Book lovers invited to apply for this year's judging panel
- Cook Government fostering a vibrant and creative economy
The Western Australian Premier's Book Awards, a vibrant celebration of the stories and voices that define the State, has launched for 2026.
A total prize pool of $120,000 will be awarded across eight categories, reflecting the breadth of contemporary writing in Western Australia.
Entries are now open until 6 March 2026 for works published between 1 January and 31 December 2025 in the categories of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, emerging writer, children's, and young adult.
The prestigious Western Australian Book of the Year will be chosen from the category winners.
Administered by the State Library of Western Australia, the Premier's Book Awards support and promote authors, illustrators and publishers, while encouraging readers to engage with local stories.
The Daisy Utemorrah Award for Unpublished Indigenous Junior and Young Adult Writing, sponsored and administered by Magabala Books, is open to all Australian writers.
The State Library is inviting readers, writers, booksellers, parents, and library fans to apply to join this year's judging panel. Prospective judges must be available from March to July 2026.
Information on how to enter the awards or apply for the judging panel can be found on the State Library's website: www.slwa.wa.gov.au/premiersbookawards .
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"The Western Australian Premier's Book Awards are a vital platform for celebrating the creativity, talent, and diversity of local writers and publishers.
"By investing in creative industries, my government is celebrating creativity as a force that strengthens communities and fosters a vibrant and creative economy.
"The awards are one of the ways the State Library is ensuring that the voices shaping WA's cultural identity are heard across the State and beyond."
As stated by Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk:
"The Premier's Book Awards are one of the state's most significant cultural honours, recognising creative brilliance and inspiring new generations of writers and readers.
"Every year, these awards bring forward new voices and honour the writers who help shape how we see ourselves and the world.
"Western Australia is home to an extraordinary community of storytellers, and these awards are a joyful reminder of the talent and skill that thrive in our creative industries sector."
