Aurealis Awards

Welcome to the official home of the Aurealis Awards, proudly presented by the Queensland Writers Centre.

Entries Open

This is an annual suite of awards.

Entries open: Mon 29 Jun 2026 – Tues 10 Nov 2026

Awards Presentation: Sat 20 Feb 2027

As Australia’s premier literary prizes for speculative fiction, the Aurealis Awards recognise and celebrate the incredible achievements of Australian creators working in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. From epic world-building to spine-chilling suspense, these awards honour the absolute best of our nation's imagination.

ENTRY FORM

ENTRY GUIDELINES

Evolution, not Revolution

The Aurealis Awards continue to uphold their founding mission of integrity and prestige, backed by the administrative strength of Queensland Writers Centre.

By anchoring the awards ceremony within the vibrant programming of GenreCon, we ensure that our finalists and winners are celebrated on a grand, national stage surrounded by their peers, publishers, and most passionate readers.

Sustainable Future

As the Australian speculative fiction landscape grows, the Aurealis Awards are evolving to ensure their long-term viability and prestige. We are transitioning from an entirely volunteer-run model to a sustainable hybrid structure, combining administrative backing with the vital expertise of our community.

To support this professional framework, entry fees will see a modest increase, directly funding a more robust management system and securing the awards' future. Crucially, this evolution allows us to introduce even greater rigour and structural support around our judging panels, maintaining the absolute integrity of the process while ensuring our judges are fully supported every step of the way.

Applications

ENTRY FORM

ENTRY GUIDELINES

The Aurealis Awards are for published works of original Australian speculative fiction. Works first published (and/or scheduled for publication) between 1 January 2026 and 30 November 2026 are eligible for the current Awards.

  • Entrants should submit their own original work and hold all relevant rights to submit.

  • Entrants should be Australian or New Zealand citizens or reside in Australia or New Zealand.

  • Entrants under 18 years are eligible but need permission from a guardian (contact QWC).

Traditionally published, independently published and self-published works (including works published on online platforms), whether available via purchase or freely available, are eligible. Unpublished work is not eligible.

Read the application guidelines for details on category-specific eligibility and apply now.

  • The Aurealis Awards accept submissions in electronic format. Submit the complete manuscript alongside author and publication details as requested in the online Entry Form. Accepted file formats:

    • Word (.docx)

    • PDF

    • EPUB

    To discuss options for making a hardcopy submission please contact QWC.

    To submit in EPUB format please complete the Entry Form then forward your file to aurealis@qldwriters.org.au.

  • Eligibility period – works published between: Thurs 1 Jan – Mon 30 Nov 2026 (inclusive)

    Entries open: Mon 29 Jun 2026

    Entries close: Tues 10 Nov 2026

    Shortlist announced: Jan 2027

    Awards Ceremony: Sat 20 Feb 2027 (at GenreCon, Brisbane)

    Entrants will be personally notified of the outcome of their entry. Shortlisted entrants will be publicly announced in the Pen & Pixel email newsletter and online. Winners will be announced at GenreCon in Brisbane in February 2027 and publicly announced shortly thereafter.

  • For specific prices, please see Entry Guidelines or Entry Form.

    Fees payable per entry. Belonging discount available for Queensland Writers Centre members and GenreCon 2027 ticketholders on up to three entries.

    Fees contribute to the ongoing viability of the awards and their administration. QWC is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

    Subsidies via the Fellowship and Access Fund may be available to support entries made by QWC members from diverse backgrounds and/or disadvantaged situations – contact the Centre for more information.

    Refunds are not available for ineligible entries and/or entries withdrawn outside of the entry period.

How It Works

Judges are drawn from the diverse Australian speculative fiction community to review hundreds of entries. To ensure fairness, judges follow a strict scoring system and serve for a maximum of two consecutive years per category.

Awards are presented across 16 distinct categories, including:

  • Best Novel, Novella, and Short Story (for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror)

  • Best Young Adult Novel and Short Story

  • Best Children's Fiction

  • Best Graphic Novel / Illustrated Work

  • Best Anthology and Collection

  • The Convenors’ Award for Excellence (recognising landmark achievements or bodies of work that bring significant credit to the genre)

Get Involved

Whether you are an author looking to submit your latest manuscript, an industry expert interested in joining a judging panel, or a reader wanting to attend the next gala at GenreCon, your place in our community is right here.

A Rich History of Speculative Fiction

A Rich History of Speculative Excellence

Established in 1995 by Chimaera Publications (the team behind Aurealis magazine), the awards were created to carve out a rigorous space for speculative genres.

While other national accolades existed, the founders recognised the need for a dedicated, expert-led evaluation system that judged works specifically within their own subgenres and target age brackets.

Over the decades, the administration of the awards has travelled across the country, kept alive by the passion of the Australian speculative fiction community, volunteer guilds, and literary organisations.

Key Milestones

1995

Chimaera Publications establishes the awards in Melbourne with four core categories: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Young Adult.

2001

A dedicated Children's Fiction category is introduced to honour speculative storytelling for younger readers.

2004 - 2022

The awards are hosted by dedicated regional groups nationwide, including Fantastic Queensland, SpecFaction NSW, Conflux Inc. (ACT), the Western Australian Science Fiction Foundation (WASFF), Continuum Foundation (Vic), and the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild (CSFG).

2026

Queensland Writers Centre officially integrates the Aurealis Awards ceremony into GenreCon, bringing the physical showcase back to Brisbane at the Thomas Dixon Centre.

Winners – 2025

  • Winner: Do Motorcycle Centaurs Dream of Five Stars and a Tip? by Corey Jae White & Maddison Stoff 

    Published by: Interzone, MYY Press

  • Winner: The Hidden God by T R Napper 

    Published by: Asimov’s Science Fiction March/April 2025

  • Winner: Wastelands by Samira Lloyd

    Published by: Arianhrod Press

  • Winner: Dying Mountain by Baden M Chant 

    Published by: Aurealis Magazine #177

  • Winner: Cinder House by Freya Marske 

    Published by: Pan Macmillan

  • Winner: Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods 

    Published by: HarperCollins Publishers

  • Winner: It Will Only Hurt If I Want It To by Kirstyn McDermott

    Published by: Midnight Echo #20, AHWA

  • Winner: Walpurgis by Ron Schroer 

    Published by: Strange Legacy 2025: Creature Feature, Thorncroft Legacy

  • Winner: Orpheus Nine by Chris Flynn 

    Published by: Hachette Australia

  • Winner: Crown Tourney by Tansy Rayner Roberts 

    Published by: Crown Tourney: Ten Tales of Deadly Damsels, Cursed Castles and Edged Weapons, self-published

  • Winner: The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau 

    Published by: New Dawn

  • Winner: Little Bones by Sandy Bigna

    Published by: UQP

  • Winner: The Leper’s Garden and Other Contagions by Jeff Clulow 

    Published by: Third Eye Press

  • Winner: AUSTRAL 2025 by Matt Richardson, Michaela Teschendorff & Ciar Fhearchair (Eds.) 

    Published by: Meridian Australis

  • Winner: Higher Ground by Tull Swannakit 

    Published by: New Frontier Publishing