33rd Scarlet Stiletto Awards Ceremony
November 21 @ 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The 33rd Scarlet Stiletto Awards for best crime short stories by Australian women will be presented by Vikki Petraitis and hosted by Kerryn Mayne. The event will take place on 21st November, 2026 at the Stamford Plaza, Melbourne.
The idea for a national award for short stories, written by Australian women and featuring a strong female protagonist, was cooked up over a few glasses of wine in 1994 at a convenors’ meeting in St Kilda, Victoria. The purpose was to support and unearth new talent.
This has been achieved in spades. In the 32 years to 2025, 5008 stories have been entered with 34 Scarlet Stiletto Award winners – including category winners – going on to have novels published.
Dress Code: Scarlet
Buy your tickets here: Scarlet Stiletto Tickets
Bookings close COB Wednesday 11th November, 2026