Children’s literature dominated the 2026 Australian Book Industry Awards, with Zeno Sworder’s Once I was a Giant taking out the night’s top honour, Book of the Year, at the annual ceremony in Sydney.
Books+Publishing and the Australian Publishers Association announced the winners at The Grounds of Alexandria on Thursday night, with writer and media personality Benjamin Law hosting the event.
Now in its 26th year, the Australian Book Industry Awards recognises excellence across Australian publishing, with more than 50 judges from publishing, bookselling, media and library sectors selecting winners across fiction, non-fiction, children’s and industry categories.
Children’s titles lead the night
Sworder’s illustrated picture book also won Children’s Picture Book of the Year, with the awards spotlighting a strong year for children’s publishing.
The Hall of Fame honours also focused on figures in children’s literature, with author and former bookseller Paul Macdonald receiving the Pixie O’Harris Award and acclaimed Australian author Mem Fox receiving the Lloyd O’Neil Award for outstanding service to the Australian book industry.
Macdonald said he was “thrilled, honoured and humbled to be awarded the 2026 Pixie O’Harris Award. I am absolutely in awe of the list of prestigious past winners.”
Zeno Sworder, whose book ‘Once I was a Giant’ won Book of the Year
Sally Hepworth and Charlotte McConaghy among major winners
In the adult categories, Sally Hepworth won both General Fiction Book of the Year and Audiobook of the Year for Mad Mabel.
Geraldine Brooks took out Biography Book of the Year for Memorial Days, while The Mushroom Tapes by Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper and Sarah Krasnostein won General Non-fiction Book of the Year.
Charlotte McConaghy won Literary Fiction Book of the Year for Wild Dark Shore, while Angie Faye Martin received The Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year for Melaleuca.
The Social Impact Book of the Year award went to A Piece of Red Cloth by Leonie Norrington, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs, Djawa Burarrwanga and Djawundil Maymuru.
Former bookseller Paul Macdonald receiving the Pixie O’Harris Award
Publishing industry recognised
Among the industry awards, Penguin Random House Australia was named Publisher of the Year, while Magabala Books won both Small Publisher of the Year and Children’s Publisher of the Year.
Gleebooks Dulwich Hill won Bookshop of the Year, Readings was named Book Retailer of the Year, and BIG W took out Multicategory Retailer of the Year.
Judging chair Michaela Kalowski said, “It was inspiring and exciting to see the range of themes in the books that were ABIA finalists this year. They speak to the richness of the Australian publishing industry and the talent & dedication of authors, publishers and the teams who brought these books to readers.”
She added: “The Judges brought nuance, depth of industry experience and great thought to deciding on the winning books in each category.”
Full list of winners
Book of the Year
Once I was a Giant – Zeno Sworder (Thames & Hudson Australia)
Audiobook of the Year
Mad Mabel – Sally Hepworth; narrated by Hannah Fredericksen and Jenny Seedsman (Macmillan Australia Audio, Pan Macmillan Australia)
Biography Book of the Year
Memorial Days – Geraldine Brooks (Hachette Australia)
Book of the Year for Older Children (ages 13+)
Wandering Wild – Lynette Noni (Penguin, Penguin Random House)
Book of the Year for Younger Children (ages 7–12)
Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles – Corey Tutt, illustrated by Ben Williams (Allen & Unwin)
Children’s Picture Book of the Year (ages 0–6)
Once I was a Giant – Zeno Sworder (Thames & Hudson Australia)
General Fiction Book of the Year
Mad Mabel – Sally Hepworth (Macmillan, Pan Macmillan Australia)
General Non-fiction Book of the Year
The Mushroom Tapes – Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper and Sarah Krasnostein (Text Publishing)
Illustrated Book of the Year
The Art of Kaylene Whiskey: Do you believe in love? – Kaylene Whiskey and Natalie King (Thames & Hudson)
International Book of the Year
Heart the Lover – Lily King (Canongate)
Literary Fiction Book of the Year
Wild Dark Shore – Charlotte McConaghy (Penguin, Penguin Random House Australia)
Small Publishers’ Adult Book of the Year
The Rot – Evelyn Araluen (University of Queensland Press)
Small Publishers’ Children’s Book of the Year
Sundays Under the Lemon Tree – Julia Busuttil Nishimura, illustrated by Myo Yim (Scribble, Scribe)
Social Impact Book of the Year
A Piece of Red Cloth – Leonie Norrington, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs, Djawa Burarrwanga and Djawundil Maymuru (Allen & Unwin)
The Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year
Melaleuca – Angie Faye Martin (HQ, HarperCollins Publishers)
Industry award winners
Lloyd O’Neil Award – Mem Fox
Pixie O’Harris Award – Paul Macdonald
Bookshop of the Year – Gleebooks Dulwich Hill
Book Retailer of the Year – Readings
Multicategory Retailer of the Year – BIG W
Commissioning Editor/Publisher of the Year – Vanessa Radnidge (Hachette Australia)
Marketing/Publicity Campaign of the Year – Cherry Lam Colouring Book Series (Penguin Random House Australia)
Publisher of the Year – Penguin Random House Australia
Small Publisher of the Year – Magabala Books
Children’s Publisher of the Year – Magabala Books