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Established in 1986 by the Government of South Australia, the South Australian Literary Awards honour and celebrate Australia’s vibrant writing culture. The awards program offers both national and state-based prizes across a diverse range of genres, recognising excellence in published works and supporting new voices.  

Held biennially and proudly managed by the State Library of South Australia, the Awards also include awards and fellowships for South Australian writers - highlighting the importance of local storytelling, supporting the literary community, and encouraging public engagement with literature. 

The Awards are supported by the Government of South Australia through CreateSA, the State Library of South Australia, and valued partners Writers SA, Wakefield Press, Carclew and State Theatre South Australia. 

Entries now open

Closing date is 5pm, Wednesday 12 November 2025. 

Due to the large number of entries expected, nominators are strongly encouraged to submit their entries well in advance of the closing date. 

Download the guidelines 

Please refer to the 2026 Guidelines for full information about entry and eligibility.

How to apply 

Complete the relevant category online form and visit the following Award pages for further details: 

National Awards for Published Works 

Jill Blewett Playwright's Award 

CreateSA Wakefield Press Unpublished Manuscript Award 

Fellowships for South Australian Writers  

Carclew Young Writers Awards

Prepare your entry

Full details of requirements are available on the entry forms, but as an overview, you will need to submit the following: 

National Awards for Published Works 

  • 4 print copies of the published work

How to deliver your published works?

By post to:

South Australian Literary Awards  
State Library of South Australia  
GPO Box 419  
Adelaide SA 5001  

In person:

South Australian Literary Awards   
c/- Information desk, Level 1  
State Library of South Australia  
North Terrace, Adelaide  

Please note opening hours:

Monday 10am to 5pm  
Tuesday 10am to 7pm  
Wednesday to Friday 10am to 5pm  
Saturday to Sunday 12 to 5pm  
Closed public holidays 

Jill Blewett Playwright's Award 

Documents consisting of: 

  • the nominated play
  • 1 page synopsis of the play outline
  • CV or biography
  • All entries must be made online – physical entries will not be accepted

CreateSA Wakefield Press Unpublished Manuscript Award 

Manuscript and synopsis consisting of: 

  • 1 anonymous copy of the manuscript and a one page synopsis
  • All entries must be made online – physical entries will not be accepted

Awards and Fellowships for South Australian Writers 

Fellowships

Documents consisting of: 

  • activities outline & synopsis
  • writing sample
  • CV or biography
Carclew Young Writers Awards
  • To format your short story:
    • Do not include your name on any page of your entry. Entries are judged anonymously
    • Save your file as .doc or .docx
    • plain font
    • 11 point
    • one and a half line spacing
    • include the title of your story in the header of each page
  • ensure the word count does not exceed 2,000 words (excluding the title)
  • name your file using the title
  • All entries must be made online – physical entries will not be accepted

Prizes for the 2026 South Australian Literary Awards 

Premier's Award  $25,000 for the best overall published work, chosen from the winners of the five national categories. 
Children's Literature Award  $15,000 for a published fiction or non-fiction book aimed at readers up to 11 years. 
Fiction Award  $15,000 for a published novel or collection of short stories. 
Young Adult Fiction Award  $15,000 for a published book of fiction aimed at readers aged 12 to 18 years. 
Non-Fiction Award  $15,000 for a published non-fiction work. 
John Bray Poetry Award  $15,000 for a published collection of poetry, in honour of late South Australian poet Dr John Bray. 
Jill Blewett Playwright's Award  $12,500 for an un-produced play of any genre written by a professional South Australian playwright. Supported by State Theatre Company South Australia. 
CreateSA Wakefield Press Unpublished Manuscript Award  $10,000 plus publication by Wakefield Press for an unpublished, book-length manuscript by a South Australian writer. 
Tangkanungku Pintyanthi Fellowship  $15,000 for a South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writer working in the genres of fiction, literary, non-fiction, poetry and playwriting. 
Barbara Hanrahan Fellowship  $15,000 for a South Australian writer working in the areas of fiction, poetry, drama, scriptwriting, autobiography, essays, major histories, literary criticism or other expository or analytical prose. Named in honour of distinguished South Australian writer and visual artist Barbara Hanrahan. 

Carclew Young Writers Awards 

 $500 awards for young writers aged 8 to 12 (2 awards), $750 awards for young writers aged 13 to 17 (2 awards) with the opportunity to showcase their creative voices through works of original short fiction. 

Carclew Max Fatchen Fellowship   

 $10,000 plus $2,500 towards professional mentorship for one fellowship is on offer for young writers aged 18 to 26, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants up to 30, to develop and write a new work in the genres of fiction, literary non-fiction, poetry or playwriting.  

Contact us 

If you have any queries please contact: 

South Australian Literary Awards 
email: sa.literaryawards@sa.gov.au 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enter the South Australian Literary Awards?

The National Awards for Published Works are open to Australian citizens and permanent residents. Some awards and fellowships are only open to South Australian residents. Refer to the Guidelines for more detailed information.

What are the key dates for the Awards?

Entries open: 1 October 2025  
Entries close: 12 November 2025, 5pm  
Deadline for books to arrive: Friday 21 November 2025, 5pm  
Shortlist announced: August 2026  
Winners announced: October 2026

How do I submit my entry?

All entries must be made online via the online application forms. Physical entries are not accepted for awards and fellowships. Hard copies of published books must be received by the deadline. 
 
If you are submitting a published book for any of the National Award categories (such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Young Adult, or Children’s Literature), you must:  

  • Complete your online entry form by 5pm, Wednesday 12 November 2025.
  • Ensure that physical copies of your book arrive at the State Library of South Australia by 5pm, Friday 21 November 2025. 

Can I hand deliver my books to the State Library?

Yes, hand delivery of books is welcome during opening hours of the State Library's Research Library: 
Monday 10am to 5pm 
Tuesday 10am to 7pm 
Wednesday to Friday 10am to 5pm 
Saturday to Sunday 12 to 5pm 

Can I post my books to the State Library?

Yes, you can post your books to: 
South Australian Literary Award 
State Library of South Australia 
GPO Box 419 
Adelaide SA 5001

What is the date range for eligibility for published works?

Eligible works must be published between 16 December 2023 and 12 November 2025.  

How much does it cost to enter?

There are no entry fees for the South Australian Literary Awards. 

How do I submit my supporting documents when required for entry?

All supporting documents must be uploaded online as part of your entry. When you complete the application form for your chosen award or fellowship, you will be prompted to attach these documents before submitting. No physical copies of supporting documents are accepted - everything must be submitted through the online process.

What happens if my entry is incomplete or my books arrive late?

Incomplete entries or books received after the deadline will not be accepted and will make your entry ineligible.

How will I know if I am shortlisted?

All shortlisted candidates will be notified in July 2026. Entrants who are not shortlisted will not be notified

Will my submitted books be returned?

No. Submitted publications will not be returned after judging. Publications may be added to the State Library of South Australia collection.

What happens to my documents after the Awards?

All digitally submitted documents will be permanently deleted.

Can I submit an entry on behalf of my child?

Yes, parents or guardians may submit entries on behalf of their child for the Young Writers Awards and Fellowship, as long as the child agrees, and they meet the eligibility criteria (for example, being a South Australian resident and within the specified age range for the award). The entry must be the child’s own original work.

Can I enter more than one award category?

Yes, you may enter more than one award category. However, you must complete and submit a separate online entry form for each category you wish to enter.  

If you are submitting the same work for multiple categories, ensure that each entry is submitted individually and meets the specific eligibility criteria for each category.