OBSERVER: Davitt Awards


Sisters in Crime Australia has announced the 2026 Davitt Awards Longlist.
For a quarter of a century, Sisters in Crime Australia has been shining a spotlight on the incredible achievements of women crime writers of fiction and non-fiction.
From the first year of the Davitt Awards with its seven entries, to the present day where more than 100 books are entered each year, it’s been an astonishing journey, filled with inspiring talent and unforgettable stories.
The judges of the 2026 Davitt Awards have selected a longlist of books that reflect the excellent quality and maturity of stories written by Australian women crime writers.
These stories are notable for their originality, depth and the high level of the authors’ skills, with narratives covering a diverse landscape of themes and ideas.
Ruth Wykes, Davitt Awards Judges’ Chair, observed that the 2026 entries that stood out “were the ones that entertained, challenged, taught us, and stayed with us long after we had read the final chapters. Stories that were bold and brave, or beautifully nuanced”.
“The stronger contenders this year were those who created depth in their protagonists, who avoided cliches in developing stories and those who raised the bar for crime writers in Australia.
“I’m inspired by the incredible talent of our Australian women crime writers, and I include the number of authors whose books narrowly missed out on reaching the longlist. They are all gifted and world-class writers,” said Ms Wykes.
This year, 126 books were entered into the 26th Davitt Awards across four categories.
There are 28 books remaining in contention for the coveted Davitt Awards: 16 adult fiction, three non-fiction, three young adult and six children’s books, including debut authors and self-published books. Sisters in Crime and the Davitt Awards’ judges are proud to unveil the 2026 Davitt Awards Longlist.
For the Davitt Awards longlist details visit sistersincrime.org.au/davitt-awards-2026/
Cheryl Threadgold