NT Book Awards announce 2026 shortlists

The shortlists for the 2026 NT Book Awards have been announced. The Northern Territory hosts several writing honors, including the NT Book Awards, the NT History Book Award, and the NT Literary Awards.

In the fiction category, the shortlists include ‘A Piece of Red Cloth’ by Leonie Norrington, Djawundil Maymuru, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs, and Djawa Burarrwanga. This historical novel is set during pre-colonial times and is based on a Yolŋu story. Also shortlisted is ‘Moonlight and Dust’ by Jasmin McGaughey, a Torres Strait Islander and African American writer and editor.