2026 Banjo Writing Awards

The Banjo Paterson Writing Awards were established in 1991 to honour Banjo Paterson, a great Australian writer, and favourite son of Orange.

The writing competition has three separate categories: Short Story writing, Contemporary Poetry, and a Children’s Writing Awards category to encourage and inspire children to develop their writing skills.

2026 Entries launch on Tuesday 17 February, and close on Friday 1 May 2026.

For inspiration you may wish to view previous winners of the competition on the Central West Recollect platform.

How to Enter

*** Please note that the entry format for 2026 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards has changed. ***

All entries to be submitted via Orange City Council secure payments platform – ‘Bookable’ www.orange.nsw.gov.au

ENTRIES OPEN Tuesday 17 February 2026
ENTRIES CLOSE 5.00pm Friday 1 May 2026

2026 Terms & Conditions

The competition will be judged to select, in the opinion of the judges, the best entries in the following three categories:

CATEGORY 1 – Short Story

  • First Prize only – $2,000
  • Must not exceed 3,000 words
  • Type your entry using font Arial 12pt (preferred but not essential)
  • Entry Fee $15 per entry

CATEGORY 2 – Contemporary Poetry

  • First Prize only – $2,000
  • Must not exceed 200 lines
  • Type your entry using font Arial 12pt (preferred but not essential)
  • Entry Fee $15 per entry

CATEGORY 3 – Children’s Writing Awards (16 years and under)

  • First Prize $200, Second Prize $100, Third Prize $100
  • Children’s Short Story entries must not exceed 1,000 words, or
  • Children’s Poetry entries must not exceed 30 lines (excluding title)
  • Please provide your age as at Friday 1 May 2026 in online submission
  • Parent/Carer contact details must be provided for entrants under 18 years of age
  • Entry Fee $5 per entry

Entry Requirements

The awards are aimed at promoting Australian writing and writers with Australian content

  • Entries must be the unaided work of the entrant
  • Entrants name must not appear anywhere on the entry
  • Entry must have its Title clearly displayed across the top of the front page
  • Entries do not have to be written in the same style as the work of Banjo Paterson or in ‘bush’ style. The only requirement is for Australian content
  • Entries previously published will be considered by the judges, providing no payment was received
  • If previously published please include publishing information in application
  • It is preferred that your entry is typed using font Arial 12pt, this is preferred but not essential
  • Online entry must be completed via Orange City Council secure payment portal ‘Bookable’
  • All entries are to be available for reproduction or publication by Orange City Library with copyright being retained by the author
  • Winners will be notified by phone on Thursday 18 June 2026 and formally announced at the Orange Readers and Writers Festival on Saturday 1 August 2026
  • The list of winners and their winning entries will be available to view on Central West Libraries website www.cwl.nsw.gov.au, and all winning entries are recorded on centralwestrecollect.net.au
  • When submitting multiple entries, you must provide details and payment for each entry

If you have any issues accessing ‘Bookable’ (the payments portal) please contact us on telephone 02 6393 8120 to organise an alternative method of payment.

LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

All entries must be submitted via the Orange City Council Bookable platform by 5.00pm Friday 1 May 2026.

Enquiries to Orange City Library on (02) 6393 8120 during business hours