Submissions are now open for the 2026 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards (VPLAs) – one of Australia’s most prestigious and lucrative literary prize suites – championing excellence across Fiction, Non-Fiction, Drama, Poetry, Indigenous Writing, Children’s Literature and Writing for Young Adults.
In 2026, the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Writing for Young Adults will be named in honour of John Marsden as a special tribute to the beloved author. The treasured novelist and teacher, who passed away in late 2024, is remembered for classics such as Tomorrow, When the War Began and So Much to Tell You, among more than 40 published works.
Marsden’s impact on Australian youth literature was both profound and lasting, with his stories inspiring generations of young readers and writers. The naming of the 2026 prize acknowledges his extraordinary contribution to the national literary landscape and his lifelong advocacy of young people and their stories.
“John’s ability to create relatable novels for young adults raised the profile of this genre in Australia and internationally. He would be thrilled that this prize now bears his name. In fact, John would be smiling his biggest smile to know that he continues to be associated with talented Australian authors, who share his passion for writing for young people,” says John Marsden’s Sisters, Robin Farran and Ros Marsden.
Administered by The Wheeler Centre on behalf of the Victorian Government, the VPLAs have long spotlighted outstanding talent and thought-provoking storytelling that reflect the depth and diversity of Australian culture.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary earlier this year, the awards were buoyed by the introduction of the biennial John Clarke Prize for Humour Writing and The John Clarke Fellowship (part of The Wheeler Centre’s The Next Chapter Fellowship program), each awarded in alternate years with support from the Victorian Government Community Support Fund, recognising the art of comedy in Australian literature.
With Robert Skinner taking out the inaugural Prize in 2025 for his wryly funny memoir, I’d Rather Not, the next will be presented in 2027. The 2025 Victorian Prize for Literature was awarded to Nukgal Wurra author-artist Wanda Gibson for her heart-warming family story, Three Dresses, with Gibson making history as the first children’s author to take out the top prize.
“The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards have a strong and important track record of investing in the careers of local writers, authors, poets and storytellers, who play such a vital role in reflecting and shaping Australian culture,” says Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks.
“We encourage applications from eligible writers across all the prize categories, and in particular, in 2026, the John Marsden Prize for Writing for Young Adults, honouring the life and legacy of the late Victorian author and educator, who inspired a love of reading and writing in so many young people across Australia and around the world.”
Alongside the John Marsden Prize for Writing for Young Adults, the wider prize pool includes awards for Fiction, Non-Fiction, Drama, Poetry, Indigenous Writing and Children’s Literature. Each category winner will receive $25,000, with all six going on to compete for the coveted Victorian Prize for Literature, Australia’s richest literary award, valued at an additional $100,000.
The VPLAs have also served as a vital launchpad for new Australian voices with the Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. Past recipients have gone on to secure major publishing deals and critical acclaim, with the likes of Graeme Simsion’s bestselling The Rosie Project and Jane Harper’s mega-hit The Dry first unearthed through the prize.
The winner of the Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript will receive $15,000 and a two-week creative residency at McCraith House in Dromana, through a partnership between The Wheeler Centre and RMIT University.
The Australian public also plays their part in the VPLAs with the $2,000 People’s Choice Award. Shortlisted and highly commended works from the main categories will be eligible, with voting to open via The Wheeler Centre website.
“It is a great privilege for The Wheeler Centre to deliver these awards on behalf of the Victorian Government and honour John Marsden in this way,” said Erin Vincent, CEO, The Wheeler Centre.
“Books like Tomorrow When the War Began have the power to create lifelong connections and pathways to literature and there has never been a more important time to celebrate Australia’s best writers and foster a love of reading in our community.”
Submissions for the 2026 awards are now open and close 29 August 2025. The 2026 shortlists will be announced in December 2025. Winners for all categories will be announced at the VPLA Ceremony in February 2026.
Entries are accepted from published authors as well as eligible new works applying for the Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript. For more information, including eligibility criteria and submission guidelines, visit: www.wheelercentre.com for details.
Image: John Marsden (supplied)