Eligibility criteria:

1. Novels must be historical novels as per the definition set out in the rules.

2. All forms of non-fiction including narrative non-fiction and memoir are ineligible. 

3. Novels must have first been published or released in English between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026 (the Publication Period).

4. Novels do not have to be set in either Australia and/or New Zealand, or feature the history of those countries.

5. Reprints of earlier novels are ineligible.

6. Self-published novels are eligible provided that they were first made available for purchase to members of the public via a retail platform during the Publication Period.

7. Authors must be citizens or residents of Australia or New Zealand at the time of entry.

8. Authors must be over 18 years of age. 

9. Novels must have an ISBN (print) and EPUB ISBN (digital).

10. Novels must be produced and published in English. 

11. Novels must have good production values and be professionally edited.

12. Minimum word count is 50,000 words. An accurate word count of the text must be specified on the nomination form which excludes forewords, blurbs, author’s notes, references and acknowledgements.

13. Verse novels are eligible.

14. Copyright will remain with the author. 

15. Novels written by two or more authors in collaboration are eligible. Novels that are the work of a community collective are ineligible. 

16. Posthumous entries will not be accepted. A novel will be disqualified if an author dies after their book is entered.

17. Novels featuring First Nations characters and/or history should be respectfully researched with evidence the author has consulted with appropriate cultural advisers from Indigenous communities in the locales in which a book is set e.g. through their author’s note or in the acknowledgements.

18. Novels which do not meet the eligibility criteria will be removed from contention and not be considered by the judging panel.

19. Novels by authors who are current members of the HNSA Management Committee and/or HNSA Prize sub-committee, or are commercial contractors retained by HNSA for its biennial festival or the Prize, or are principals, board members and employees of ARA Group are not eligible to be nominated for the Prize. Equally, novels by members of the judging panels are not eligible to be nominated for either the Adult or the Children and Young Adult categories of the Prize.

Entry rules:

Important: Please first refer to eligibility criteria to determine if a book is eligible

Nomination 

1. Publishers, agents, or authors may nominate novels for the Prize. If the novel is being nominated by a publisher or agent, the consent of the author/s to enter the work must be obtained. This must be confirmed on the nomination form by ticking a box. HNSA reserves the right to directly contact authors of books submitted by publishers or agents to confirm consent has been obtained. 

2. A publisher, agent, or author may nominate more than one novel provided a separate entry fee is paid for each novel.  

3. A non-refundable entry fee per novel is payable. Payment must be cleared by 30 June 2026. The fees are:

• Early Bird 18 March (9 am) to 13 May 2026 (Midnight) AEDT- $60

• General entry 14 May to 17 June 2026 (5pm) AEDT- $90

4. Nominated novels must be submitted in valid EPUB format via the online form. No other digital format will be accepted e.g. PDF, Word.doc or MOBI files. If you do not have access to a valid EPUB file, please contact us via arahistnovelprize@gmail.com  Digital files of the books will not be returned.

5. Advanced Review Copies (electronic only) are acceptable for novels due to be released between 18-30 June 2026. This file must be the final, published version, not a proof copy or manuscript.

6. It is the nominator’s responsibility to ensure the EPUB file is properly formatted and rendered correctly across platforms. Please do not use a proprietary DRM solution or watermark across text as it will adversely affect the judges’ reading experience. Upon entry, the EPUB file will be moved to a restricted folder accessible only to the Judging Panel and HNSA staff via secure e-Readers. The e-Book file will not be shared with any party outside of the Judging Panel or HNSA. The Judges’ e-readers will be returned to HNSA at the end of the contest, and the files will be erased. 

7. It is the nominator’s responsibility to ensure hardcopies are not dispatched to the HNSA for entry to the Prize. HNSA is not responsible for the return of any books shipped. However, if novels are longlisted or shortlisted, print copies signed by the authors will be required for marketing purposes and nominators notified of the necessary shipping arrangements.

8. Requests for confirmation of receipt of entries will not be answered.

9. All entries are strictly confidential. The fact of entry may not be used to publicise an author at any time, unless the author has been included in the longlist or shortlist or chosen as the winner.

10. HNSA welcomes all entries submitted in good faith and reserves the right to refuse entries at the absolute discretion of the HNSA (e.g. entries nominated with malice or with the intent to mislead or deceive others, or which otherwise may harm the reputation of the ARA Historical Novel Prize, ARA Group, and/or HNSA.)

11. In nominating or consenting to nomination of their novel, all shortlisted and prize-winning authors (including the winner/s of the Readers’ Choice Award (RCA)) commit to accept the source of the funds awarded to them. 

12. Co-authors will be paid an equal share of the Prize money awarded for their book being shortlisted, or winning, the Prize or RCA. 

Judges’ decision 

13. The judging criteria are excellence in writing, depth of historical research, engaging story-telling, and reader appeal.  

14. Five judges will be appointed to the judging panel chosen from the literary community for their varied experience as historical novelists, readers, reviewers, booksellers, editors and/or literary programmers. The HNSA Committee will appoint an HNSA convenor to act as a sounding board for the judges on the eligibility and judging criteria. 

15. The Judging Panel will make their selections based on the four criteria without personal prejudice or preference. The HNSA Convenor identifies, assesses, and manages potential conflicts in relation to entries each year to protect the integrity and reputation of the HNSA, its appointed judges, staff and HNSA Committee members in accordance with the Prize’s conflicts of interest policy.

16. The Judging Panel will not discuss or divulge the identity of books entered to the Prize, their deliberations and discussions or the judging process with anyone other than the HNSA Convenor or HNSA Committee members.

17. The Prize will not be jointly awarded to two novels.

18. The judging panel’s decisions are final and no debate or correspondence will be entered into. 

19. A longlist of 9 novels will be announced on 2 September 2026. Nominators and/or authors of longlisted novels will be notified after the judges’ decision is made and are required to keep the longlist confidential until such date the HNSA advises it is acceptable to promote the novel’s longlisting. We regret we are not able to notify nominators who have not been successful.

20. It is in the judges’ discretion to award highly commended status to books. Nominators and/or authors of the highly commended novel will be notified after the judges’ decision is made and will be required to keep commended status confidential until such date the HNSA advises it is acceptable to promote the novel’s placing. We regret we are not able to notify nominators who have not been successful.

21. A short list of 3 novels will be announced on 23 September 2026. Nominators and/or authors of the shortlisted books will be notified after the judges’ decision is made and will be required to keep the shortlist confidential until such date the HNSA advises it is acceptable to promote the novel’s shortlisting. Nominators and/or authors of unsuccessful novels will be notified in accordance with HNSA timeframes.

22. The winner/s of the Prize will be announced at the ARA Historical Novel Prize award ceremony on 15 October 2026. Nominators and/or authors of the winning books will be notified after the judges’ decision is made and will be required to keep their win confidential until after the award ceremony. Nominators and/or authors of unsuccessful shortlisted novels will be notified in accordance with HNSA timeframes.

Warranties

23. The author/s and/or publisher/and/or agent on nomination of a novel for the Prize each separately warrant:

• The novel is the original creation of the author/s;

• The novel has not been wholly or substantially created by the use of generative AI technologies (AI grammatical and spelling tools are acceptable);

• The novel is not defamatory; and

• The novel does not infringe any existing copyright or licence or any other third-party rights.

24. Each author and/or publisher/and or agent warrants that the author meets the entry requirements, outlined above and in the nomination form, that all details included in their entry are true and accurate, and that the author has consented to nomination for the Prize on these terms and conditions.

25. Each author and/or publisher and/or agent on nomination of a novel for the Prize indemnifies HNSA for any loss or damage resulting from any breach of the warranties at clause 23-24 above and acknowledges that HNSA may, in its absolute discretion, withhold Prize monies or seek repayment of the Prize monies, damages and costs in the event of a breach of those warranties.

Readers’ Choice Award (RCA)

26. By nominating, or consenting to nomination, for the Prize, an author agrees in the event of being longlisted for the Prize for their book to be automatically placed in the running for the RCA which is determined by subscribers of the HNSA newsletter voting for their favourite book through an online survey.

27. The winner is determined by the HNSA Convenor via a ‘first through the post’ method, namely, the book with the highest number of votes wins.

28. HNSA’s determination of the RCA is final and no debate or correspondence will be entered into.

Promotion of the Prize

29. For the purpose of promoting the Prize nominators will be asked to provide a headshot and short biography of the author, social media links, book cover and book blurb when completing the nomination form.

30. By nominating, or consenting to nomination, for the Prize the author consents to HNSA collecting the author’s personal information for the purposes of administering and promoting the Prize and as reasonably necessary for the HNSA’s functions or activities. The HNSA may disclose an author’s personal information for these purposes or for a related purpose including to third party organisations that provide services in relation to the Prize. The author may access their personal information by contacting arahistnovelprize@gmail.com  

31. By nominating, or consenting to nomination, for the Prize the author agrees in the event of being listed in the RCA to actively promote their books in the RCA contest on social media to their readers/subscribers.

32. By nominating, or consenting to nomination, for the Prize the author agrees in the event of being shortlisted for or winning the Prize or RCA, to make themselves available, as reasonably required, for all public and media commitments that take place at the time of, and in the year following, the various prize announcements including interviews readings and appearances (both in-person and remotely) if feasible. This may include being recorded for a video featured in the award ceremony and on HNSA’s social media platforms.

33. In respect of Clauses 30-32 above, the author grants:

• HNSA permission to use, copyright and publish all photographs, and/or audio, and/or footage taken of the author for the purpose of promoting, marketing or publicising HNSA and/or the Prize and/or the RCA. 

• HNSA permission to use the author’s name, book title and assets listed in Clause 29 above for the purpose of announcing highly commended titles, longlist, shortlist, and winners of the Prize and RCA and for associated publicity purposes; 

• a waiver of the right to inspect or approve photographs, and /or audio, and/ or footage, and/or quotes which are used for the publication by HNSA both during and after the contest; 

• a release to HNSA (and its officers, employees, agents, sponsors, and contractors) from any liability (to the extent permitted by law) for any loss, injury or damage suffered in relation to the use of the photographs, footage, name and/or quotes, including but not limited to any claims of defamation, invasion of privacy or infringement of copyright

34. It is a condition of entry that:

• the winner and shortlisted authors of the Prize and the winner of the RCA are available to attend the award ceremony on 15 October 2026 in Sydney, and publishers will be expected to contribute towards reasonable travel, media, and promotional expenses. 

• houses of novels shortlisted for the 2026 Prize and winner of the RCA contribute between $500 and $1,500 per title, or an equivalent value in kind, towards the costs of marketing the 2026 Prize shortlist. An invoice will be issued payable within 14 days of receipt. This sliding scale is dependent on the size of the publishing house. No author will be asked to personally contribute money. Please contact us at arahistnovelprize@gmail.com  if this contribution is likely to prohibit you from nominating a novel in the prize.

• the author or publishing house of the longlisted, shortlisted and winning novels add the Prize medallion (artwork to be provided by the HNSA) to digital covers and thereafter to any reprints of the novels.

• The author or publishing house of longlisted novels provide 4 signed copies of the book for marketing purposes. 

Other

35. Income taxation on prize monies will be the responsibility of the author and the HNSA will not accept liability for remitting taxes or adjusting prize monies except as required by law. Independent financial advice should be obtained by the author on the tax consequences prior to lodgment of an income tax return.

COMPLETE ADULT CATEGORY FORM

The Adult category winner will be awarded $100,000 AUD and a trophy.

The two shortlisted authors of the Adult category will each be awarded $5,000 AUD and a certificate.

The RCA winner will be awarded $5,000 and a trophy.

Highly commended authors will receive a certificate.

Enter the contest by completing the online form.

COMPLETE ADULT CATEGORY FORM