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2026 WA Young Writers Award

The City of Subiaco proudly presents the 2026 WA Young Writers Award.

This new name demonstrates our statewide reach, celebrates 34 years of exemplary writing at Subiaco and continues to foster and celebrate young writers as we’ve always done. This award is open to WA young writers from year one to year twelve.

Entries for the 2026 WA Young Writers Award have now closed, thank you to all who entered. 

Entries are open to Western Australian school students in years one to twelve. Entries are to be the sole work of the entrant and are limited to one per person. Entries are to be no more than 2000 words in length and there is no theme for the award. 

2026 finalists announced

Lower Primary 

Sophie

Collalilo

Year 3

The Night Underwater Orchestra

Teo

Hans

Year 3

An Old Tale

Evin

Anandagoda

Year 3

The Tale of Leo and Vefir

Middle Primary

Aiden

Chin

Year 6

Four Words

Levi

Graham

Year 6

Hidden Trust

Dana

Hislop

Year 5

Osprey's Bad Temper

Upper Primary 

Lizetienne

Burke-Hardy

Year 9

The Medium of Flesh

Nethuli

Somarathna

Year 8

This Place Is For Kids

Scarlett

Brown

Year 8

The Bin Run

Lower Secondary 

Lizetienne

Burke-Hardy

Year 9

The Medium of Flesh

Nethuli

Somarathna

Year 8

This Place Is For Kids

Scarlett

Brown

Year 8

The Bin Run

Upper Secondary 

Diya

Sanjay

Year 11

The Song of the Uraad Dhal

Shamaita

Ray

Year 11

Lyrebird

Mia

Saranovic

Year 11

english assignment draft

Hannah

Nguyen

Year 10

Birds of a Feather

Winning placements will be announced in mid-October. 

Entries open: 9.30am on Friday 17 July
Entries close: 5.30pm on Monday 10 August
Finalists announced: End of September 2026
Exhibition: Tuesday 29 September to Sunday 1 November 2026

Entries for the 2026 WA Young Writers Award will open on Friday 17 July! 

Entries are judged individually in the following school year categories:
 
Lower primary – school years one and two
Middle primary – school years three and four
Upper primary – school years five and six
Lower secondary – school years seven, eight and nine
Upper secondary – school years ten, eleven and twelve
 
Entries are judged on the originality of the themes, the development of the story and the quality (not quantity) of the writing.

Please note: due to the high number of entries received for this award each year, individual feedback cannot be provided.

Prizes are donated from the City of Subiaco and award sponsors and are presented to the top three entries in each category.

The Award for Outstanding Achievement will be awarded to the best overall story across all categories.

Winning stories will be on display at Subiaco Library from Tuesday 29 September to Sunday 1 November, and published online.

2026 frequently asked questions can be found here.

If you require this document in an alternative format please contact, award@subiaco.wa.gov.au

2025 terms and conditions of entry can be found here.

If you require this document in an alternate format please email, award@subiaco.wa.gov.au

Click here to download a copy of the anthology of winning stories from 2023, 2024 and 2025.