Celebrating excellence in crime writing by Australian women.
Judging is now underway for the 2026 Davitt Awards for the best crime or mystery novels and non-fiction by Australian women published in 2025..
Thanks to all the publishers, authors, and self-published authors who entered their books for consideration.
CATEGORIES
Books will be judged in the following categories:
- Best Adult Novel
- Best Young Adult Novel
- Best Children’s Novel
- Best Non-Fiction Book
- Best Debut Book.
We’d love to see more young adult and children’s books submitted.
The Kerry Greenwood Readers’ Choice Award is chosen from the longlist through a vote by the members of Sisters in Crime Australia.
THE TIMELINE
Judging takes place until July 2026 by a panel of seven judges. The judges are chosen for their experience and expertise in the industry and hail from Victoria, ACT, NSW, and Queensland. The panel operates independently from Sisters in Crime.
These are the key dates for the 2026 Davitt Awards:
- February – July 2026: Judging underway
- May 2026: longlist announced
- July 2026: shortlist announced, and Readers’ Choice voting gets underway
- August/September 2026: Davitt Awards Gala Ceremony
The winners are notified approximately a month before the awards ceremony and invited to attend as guests of Sisters in Crime Australia. The awards ceremony is always in Melbourne.
About the Davitt Awards
For a quarter of a century, Sisters in Crime Australia has been shining a spotlight on the incredible achievements of women crime writers – fiction and non-fiction. From the first year with its seven entries to the present day where around 180 books are entered, it’s been an astonishing journey, filled with inspiring talent and unforgettable stories.
The Davitt Awards have always been about more than just recognising great writing; they’re about celebrating the voices that shine a light on society as a whole, push boundaries, and keep readers on the edge of their seats. From debut novels to well-established voices, the Davitts honour the diversity and power of Australian women writers in the worlds of crime fiction and true crime.
This spans adult, young adult, and children’s novels, as well as non-fiction.
The Davitt Awards celebrate the history, the thriving present, and the exciting future of women’s crime writing in this country: stronger and more diverse than ever, popular as well as experimental, and for readers of all ages as well as lovers of different genres and forms.
– Dr Kelly Gardiner, President, Sisters in Crime
All questions about the Davitt Awards should be sent to Ruth Wykes, the awards co-ordinator.