National Biography Award 2026 shortlist announced
The shortlist for the 2026 National Biography Award has been announced.
The 6 titles shortlisted, chosen from 93 entries, are:
- Australian Gospel (Lech Blaine, Black Inc.)
- Chameleon (Robert Dessaix, Text Publishing)
- Max Dupain: A Portrait (Helen Ennis, 4th Estate)
- Groomed (Sonia Orchard, Affirm Press)
- Find Me at the Jaffa Gate: An Encyclopaedia of a Palestinian Family (Micaela Sahhar, NewSouth Publishing)
- Gather Up Your World in One Long Breath (S Shakthidharan, Powerhouse Publishing).
The judges also highly commended Desire Paths by Megan Clement (Ultimo Press).
This year’s judges are Sylvia Martin (chair), Paul Kennedy and Samah Sabawi.
Martin said: “The shortlist for the 2026 National Biography Award encompasses a diverse range of approaches to life writing, including biography, memoir and innovative hybrid forms. In a troubled world where war rages and the established order is breaking down, many entries explored themes of fragmentation, displacement and exile as well as the evolving place of Australia in the world. Reading makes us confront new questions to ponder and new truths to comprehend and the 2026 entries included exceptional examples to enrich our lives.”
Established in 1996 to encourage “the highest standards of biography and autobiography writing and to promote public interest in these genres” the National Biography Award is given annually and is Australia’s richest prize for biographical writing and memoir, with the winner to receive $25,000; shortlisted authors receiving $2,000 each and the winner of the Michael Crouch Award for a first published biography, autobiography or memoir by an Australian writer to receive $5,000.
The winners will be announced mid-August.
Category: Awards Local news
