Key Facts:
- The Nature Conservancy has opened its eighth biennial Nature Writing Prize, offering an $8,000 prize to the winning essayist, who will also be published in Australian Book Review.
- Entries must be between 3,000 and 5,000 words in the 'Writing of Place' genre, exploring a relationship with some aspect of the Australian landscape.
- Submissions open on 1 July 2026 and close at 5pm AEST on 23 September 2026, with an entry fee of $30 (or $25 for ABR subscribers).
Calling all writers! The Nature Conservancy has announced the opening of its eighth biennial Nature Writing Prize.
The author of the winning essay will receive an $8,000 prize and be published in Australian Book Review (ABR). One additional author will receive a Highly Commended Prize of $1,000.
The competition's judges are novelists Kim Mahood, Dave Witty and Dr Georgina Arnott, editor of the Australian Book Review.
The judging process is completely anonymous, with judges awarding the prize to an Australian writer whose essay they agree to be of the highest literary merit and which best explores a relationship and interaction with some aspect of the Australian landscape. All entries are required to be between 3,000 and 5,000 words and in the genre of 'Writing of Place'.
The Nature Conservancy Australia's Country Director Lara Gallagher said, "The Nature Writing Prize was created in 2011 to promote and celebrate the art of nature writing, and to encourage a greater appreciation of Australia's magnificent natural heritage. I'd particularly like to thank Paula McLean and The McLean Foundation, without whose generous support this important prize would not be possible."
Alongside the $8,000 Winners Prize, The Nature Conservancy welcomes the return of the Rosina Joy Buckman Award, a $1,000 prize awarded to one Highly Commended essay. The Rosina Joy Buckman Award is generously sponsored by Kinchem Hegedus and Peter Barge.
2026 heralds a new era for nature writing in Australia, with the announcement of Australian Book Review as the official Publishing Partner for the Nature Writing Prize. Gallagher said, "This collaboration with ABR offers the Prize a new level of support, expanding its reach and cementing its place as one of Australia's leading nature writing initiatives."
