If you’ve been hunting for your next read, the State Government has just handed you a curated list of the best writing coming out of Western Australia right now. The 2026 WA Premier’s Book Awards shortlist has just landed, recognising more than 30 local published authors and writers across six categories.
“Western Australia has an incredible creative community, and my government is proud to celebrate the importance of storytelling through these awards,” Premier Roger Cook said.
“The books shortlisted for the Premier’s Book Awards showcase what it means to belong to and connect to a place like WA – and I know they stand up on the national stage too.”
“”Whether you’re a lifelong reader or you’ve been looking for a reason to get back into the habit of reading, I encourage all Western Australians to look up these titles and discover new voices in WA literature.”
This year’s field runs from fantastical worlds and grim underbellies to stories rooted in place and identity; it includes past winners, national award recipients, and brand-new voices still finding their stride. There’s a total prize pool of $120,000 to be shared amongst the winners when they are announced later this year.
The full 2026 shortlist
Fiction Book of the Year
- Chance and Necessity: A Novel of Narrogin and Williams by Rosanne Dingli
- When She Was Gone by Sara Foster
- King of Dirt by Holden Sheppard
- I Am Nannertgarrook by Tasma Walton
- O’Keefe by David Whish-Wilson
Non-Fiction Book of the Year
- My FIGHT with PD: A Neurologist with Parkinson’s Disease by David Blacker
- No Time for Makeup: The Life of a Flying Doctor and Paediatrician by Dr Elizabeth Green
- How Not to Become a Grumpy Old Bugger: A Bloke’s Guide to Living a Better Life by Geoff Hutchinson
- The Shameful Isles: The True Story of North-West Australia’s Fatal Experiment with Medical Apartheid by David Price
- Tjukurrpa Kurranyu. Tjukurrpa in the Front: The Yarnangu foundation for joint management in the Pila Nature Reserve by Jan Turner & Lizzie Marrkilyi Giles Ellis
Emerging Writer of the Year
- CryBaby by Mabel Gibson
- Nock Loose by Patrick Marlborough
- The Montegiallo School of Swearing by Andrew HC McDonald
- Inner Demons by Stephen B. Platt
- Geraldine by Andrea Thompson
Children’s Book of the Year
- Creature Clinic by Gavin Aung Than
- Everglade 1: Rise of the Witch by Kitty Black
- Bigfoot vs Yeti by James Foley
- One Day by Shirley Marr & Michael Speechley
- The Surface Trials by H.M. Waugh
Young Adult Book of the Year
- Made of Steam and Star Dust by Bianca Breen
- A New World Rises: Tales of a LEGO® Future by Cristy Burne, Jackson Harvey & Alex Towler
- A Murder is Going Down by Kate Emery
- Trapped! by Julia Lawrinson
- The Dreams of Summer Dartson by Peter Purchase
Poetry Book of the Year
- Gold Digger by Lisa Collyer
- The Twilight Observatory by Jennifer Kornberger
- The Hum Hearers by Shey Marque
- Past & Parallel Lives by Kaya Ortiz
Meet the authors in person
If you want to put faces to the names, the State Library of Western Australia is hosting Stories from the West, a one-day literary festival, on Saturday, August 8th. The day runs panel conversations, book giveaways, and the chance to meet the shortlisted authors.
