Stella Prize 2026: The Longlisted Literary Stars

Stella Prize 2026: A Celebration of Australian Women and Non-Binary Writers Unveiled

The literary landscape of Australia is abuzz with the announcement of the 2026 Stella Prize longlist, a testament to the extraordinary talent and diverse voices within the nation’s literary scene. This year’s selection showcases a remarkable breadth of genres, from evocative poetry and compelling contemporary fiction to insightful non-fiction, deeply personal memoirs, and a captivating graphic novel. The longlisted works have been lauded for their originality, excellence, and their ability to deeply engage with readers.

Sophie Gee, Chair of the Judging Panel, highlighted the “extraordinary diversity of genres, voices, technical experiments and literary flair” present in this year’s submissions. The Stella Prize, a prestigious award that champions Australian women and non-binary authors across all literary forms, aims to celebrate books that inspire, challenge, and broaden our understanding of the world. Gee expressed her hope that this year’s longlist will serve as a significant inspiration for both aspiring writers and avid readers alike.

The anticipation is building for the shortlist, set to be revealed in April, with the ultimate winner to be announced in May. Fiona Sweet, CEO of the Stella Prize, encourages everyone to explore the longlisted titles, stating, “There are stories here for everyone, stories that will resonate, surprise, delight, and challenge. We hope you will dive in and discover for yourself.”

The 2026 Stella Prize Longlist: A Deep Dive

This year’s longlist features an impressive array of authors and their significant works. Here’s a closer look at the books that have captured the judges’ attention:

• 58 Facets: On violence and the law by Marika Sosnowski (Non-fiction)
  This powerful work delves into the complex narratives of Holocaust survivors and Israeli war criminals, juxtaposing them with the stories of Syrian activists, revolutionaries, and dissenters. Marika Sosnowski’s grandfather’s journey to Melbourne in 1947, marked by harrowing experiences of war and displacement, forms a poignant backdrop to this exploration of violence and its legal ramifications. The book masterfully weaves personal memoir with incisive exposé, offering a profound reflection on resilience and the pursuit of a meaningful life amidst profound adversity.

• Ankami by Debra Dank (Non-fiction/Memoir)
  Debra Dank’s journey to the National Archives, seeking to illuminate her family’s history, uncovers a truth far more complex and heartbreaking than she could have imagined. What began as a quest to understand her father’s lineage reveals a staggering secret: her paternal grandmother gave birth to ten children, four of whom were taken. “Ankami” is a deeply moving account of discovering lost family members and grappling with the profound absence and secrets that accompany such a revelation.

• Apron-Sorrow / Sovereign-Tea by Natalie Harkin (Non-fiction)
  Natalie Harkin’s work offers a profound and embodied reckoning with the experiences and survival strategies of Aboriginal women. Through intergenerational stories that span loss, love, solidarity, resistance, and refusal, the book explores the complexities of domestic labour and servitude within the context of Aboriginal women’s lives. Drawing on oral histories and official state records, Harkin provides an unflinching account of resilience and the enduring spirit of Indigenous women.

• Cannon by Lee Lai (Graphic novel)
  “Cannon” presents a vivid portrayal of queer friendship and the weight of familial responsibilities. The story follows Cannon, a young woman who finds herself in the aftermath of trashing her workplace. Her friend, Trish, a fellow queer, second-generation Chinese nerd, arrives to help her navigate the literal and metaphorical wreckage. Their bond, forged in high school, has been a lifeline, and “Cannon” explores the deep intimacy of their connection as they face the challenges of their lives.

• Find Me at the Jaffa Gate: An Encyclopaedia of a Palestinian family by Micaela Sahhar (Non-fiction/Memoir)
  Micaela Sahhar’s evocative memoir contemplates the inheritance of a Nakba survivor’s daughter. By focusing on specific moments, places, and objects, Sahhar constructs a narrative of Palestinian diaspora, charting a journey from Bethlehem to the Palestinian neighbourhoods of New Jerusalem. The book is a testament to the power of words as artifacts, creating a trail of memory and fragments to reclaim a sense of home in the face of displacement and uncounted experiences.

• Fireweather by Miranda Darling (Fiction)
  In Miranda Darling’s “Fireweather,” Winona Dalloway finds her world turned upside down. Her husband is gone, her children are absent, and her city is threatened by devastating fires. Diagnosed as delusional, Winona must fight to prove her sanity while seeking solace in the natural world. Through her connection with plants and animals, she begins to envision a different way of being, one that might mend her fractured spirit.

• I Am Nannertgarrook by Tasma Walton (Fiction)
  Based on the true story of Tasma Walton’s ancestor, “I Am Nannertgarrook” is a heart-wrenching novel of enduring maternal love. Nannertgarrook is forcibly removed from her idyllic life and taken to a slave market, leaving behind her husband and children. Pregnant, she gives birth to another son and raises him alongside the children of her fellow captives. Despite being separated from her Boonwurrung family and her birthright, Nannertgarrook strives to keep her family and her past alive in her heart and mind.

• KONTRA by Eunice Andrada (Poetry)
  Eunice Andrada’s poetry collection, “KONTRA,” offers a fresh perspective on the kontrabida, the archetypal Filipina soap opera villain. Andrada reimagines this figure not as driven by revenge, but by untamed desire. Through oscillating between poet and persona, the collection navigates the complex tensions between feminine ideals of goodness and deviance, desire and refusal, reverence and repulsion, offering a potent exploration of identity and expression.

• Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks (Non-fiction/Memoir)
  Geraldine Brooks’ poignant memoir, “Memorial Days,” chronicles her journey through grief following the sudden death of her husband, Tony, in 2019. Without the space to mourn, the loss created a profound void. Three years later, Brooks travels to Tasmania, seeking time and a new perspective to process her sorrow. The book reflects on diverse cultural approaches to grief and the personal rituals that can help rebuild a life around absence, capturing the exquisite joy, agony, and mystery of life.

  
  
  

• The Rot by Evelyn Araluen (Poetry)
  Evelyn Araluen’s collection, “The Rot,” confronts the death of Country and the ongoing violence of settler colonialism with an unflinching gaze. The poems explore decaying romances, dashed hopes, and the abject injustices of the world. This powerful work serves as a call to prepare for a better world and acts as a liturgy for girlhood navigating the complexities of late-stage capitalism.

• Wait Here by Lucy Nelson (Fiction)
  “Wait Here” is a collection of stories that offer both humour and profound emotion, exploring the lives of women who, by choice or circumstance, will never become mothers. The narratives feature a dancer facing infertility, two sisters making a life-altering decision, and a young woman contemplating the absence of positive male role models. Across these diverse stories, childlessness is depicted as a hard-won freedom, a source of joy, a battle, and an uneasy comfort in a world facing significant challenges.

• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (Fiction)
  Set on Shearwater, an island sanctuary near Antarctica housing the world’s largest seed bank, Charlotte McConaghy’s “Wild Dark Shore” tells the story of Dominic Salt and his children. As sea levels rise, they face the immense task of relocating the precious seeds. Their world is further disrupted by the arrival of Rowan, a woman who washes ashore and becomes part of their lives, though her true reasons for being there remain shrouded in mystery. The novel explores the difficult choices made to protect loved ones amidst a world in crisis, a theme that also resonated with Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club.

  
  

About the Stella Prize

The Stella Prize is an annual award presented to an Australian woman or non-binary writer. The winner is awarded a substantial prize of $60,000, while all longlisted authors receive $2,000.

The shortlist, comprising six titles, will be announced on April 8, 2026, with the esteemed winner to be revealed on May 13, 2026. The judging panel for the 2026 Stella Prize includes Sophie Gee (Chair), Jaclyn Crupi, Benjamin Law, Gillian O’Shaughnessy, and Ellen van Neerven. Their selections are guided by the core principles of originality, excellence, and reader engagement.