Explore the 2026 Program

SMH Best Young Novelists

Meet these award-winning emerging novelists

Saturday 23 May 2026
3-3.55pm
Event Code: 101
Each year, The Sydney Morning Herald names the authors it considers to be the best young fiction writers in the country.

In the 30th year of the prestigious award, Melanie Kembrey, editor of Spectrum, leads a discussion with this year's winners about their works and writing processes. A must-see event for emerging writers and supporters of Australian literature.

Previous SMH Best Young Australian Novelist winners include Jumaana Abdu, Christos Tsiolkas, Hannah Kent and Diana Reid.
Loading...
Carriageworks, Bay 24
245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015