The Pearl Prize 2026 Submissions

About The Pearl Prize 2026: Writers Award

The Pearl Prize is presented by Osborne and Fawkner Publishing as part of Midsumma Festival 2026. A writing award where Queer writers have a platform of self-expression through the writing landscape and into publication.

How to Enter

In 2026, The Pearl Prize is going International, opening entries to writers from Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan.

• SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY: osborneandfawknerpublishinghq.com/enter-the-pearl-prize
• ENTRIES CLOSE: 11.59pm Friday 29 August 2025 Australian Eastern Standard Time. 

Writers can submit writing in any form to a literary panel and begin their journey in the writing scene. Finalists will be selected and published and the winner of The Pearl Prize announced during Midsumma Festival 2026. The publication will be released during Midsumma Festival and available to purchase. The Pearl Prize and what the meaning of Pearl is; quite simply the pearl in the oyster and romantic connotations in queer life and love since inception.

The Pearl Prize is symbolic of all LGBTQIA people from all backgrounds, walks of life in love and support. We stand for the rights of all LGBTQIA individuals and acknowledge all peoples throughout history and in the present who support and stand for the freedoms of everybody.

Prizes

The Winner and Highly Commended both receive awards.

• The Winner of The Pearl Prize will receive a gift which includes a $500 cash payment, to set their typewriter tapping, and a copy of The Pearl Prize 2026.
• Highly Commended is awarded to a Writer of Merit, which includes a $300 cash payment and a copy of The Pearl Prize 2026.

The Opportunity

Writers of new original unpublished works are invited to submit writing in any form. Finalists will be selected and have their works published in a book, The Pearl Prize 2026, available to purchase during Midsumma Festival 2026. A panel will decide the finalists through a selection criteria process and then vote on the winner of The Pearl Prize 2026. The finalists will be announced online late in 2025.

During Midsumma 2026, there will be an Award Presentation Party and a bookshop launch of the book, and an author meet-and-greet and book-signing event in Victoria, Australia. Each finalist receives a copy of the book, and the achievement that comes with being a published writer.

Theme 2026

‘Turning the names inside out’ 

Queer name tags once thought of as prejudice are transformed historically by us into strength and might to empower. Look into the world of linguistics and beyond to create a story that takes the former derogatory terms for LGBTQIA people and use it with your own words. SO LETS TAKE THEM ON: lemons, cherries, bananas, dough nuts, and fudge out of the cookie jar and fridge and take us on a journey… may the words be with you.

This year for The Pearl Prize 2026 we are open to entries from Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan.