Aurealis Awards

Queensland’s renowned suite of poetry awards support, recognise and celebrate emerging and established poets.

Entries Open

Annual suite of Awards. Entries open: Mon 29 Jun 2026 – Tues 10 Nov 2026

Awards Presentation: Sat 20 Feb 2027

The Aurealis Awards are Australia’s premier awards for speculative fiction. With a history spanning 30 years, the Awards are renowned for celebrating works contributing to the national genre fiction publishing landscape and community.

The Awards are administered by Queensland Writers Centre and presented as part of GenreCon, an annual conference dedicated to writers of genre fiction.

ENTRY FORM

ENTRY GUIDELINES

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

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 toward Judges’ honorariums, prizes (trophies) and Awards administration expenses. (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.