WINNING WORDSMITHS

Since 1984, the NT Literary Awards have celebrated the unpublished works of Territorians, and recently, the 2025 winners were revealed at a special awards ceremony at Library & Archives NT in Darwin, with the event livestreamed to Red Kangaroo Books in Alice Springs. 

WORDS TIERNEY WHITE

THIS YEAR’S AWARDS garnered over 240 entries, with 20 unpublished works shortlisted across the seven categories – theatre, short story, flash fiction, essay, creative non-fiction, youth, and poetry. Winners received a piece of almost $6,000 in cash prizes, plus memberships to NT Writers’ Centre and double passes to select shows in Brown's Mart's 2026 performance program. Nice. 

Belinda Mawby took out the Zip Print Short Story Award for her story Eternal, and it’s an important opportunity for writers across the NT. 

“The Awards are important because sharing stories connects us and celebrates the diverse voices across the Territory, from desert to salt water,” she says. 

“To have my work recognised in my hometown and to stand amongst so many fine Territory writers is a great privilege. Very humbling … Knowing that your work resonates for even one person is immensely powerful.” 

Congratulations to all shortlisted finalists and winners. If you’ve got some words swirling around in that head of yours, there’s no time like the present to start plotting them out on paper, as the 2026 Awards will be here before you know it! 

NT LITERARY AWARDS WINNERS 

Brown’s Mart Theatre Award 
Jada Alberts | Black light 

Charles Darwin University Creative Non-Fiction Award 
Alex Eve | Severance and being seen 

Charles Darwin University Essay Award 
Sophie Collins | Rheumatic heart disease: a call to action on preventable, poverty-attributable deaths in the Northern Territory 

Flash Fiction Award 
Roland Bull | The important affair of the first male Moneypenny 

Kath Manzie Youth Award 
Lucy Tinapple | Deserted 

NT Writers’ Centre Poetry Award 
Meg Mooney | In the desert where I live 

Zip Print Short Story Award 
Belinda Mawby | Eternal 

_{Image: 2025 Winners & Sponsors}