BAD Sydney Crime Writers Danger Awards Entry 2026

OPEN FOR ENTRIES: 2026 DANGER AWARDS

BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival is pleased to announce that entries for the 2026 Danger Awards open on 20 July 2026.

Now in their ninth year, the Danger Awards continue to honour books featuring Australia as a setting for stories about crime and justice. At BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival in November 2026, four awards will be presented: one for Best Debut Crime Fiction, one for Best Crime Fiction, one for Best Crime Non-Fiction and once again, thanks to the generous sponsorship of OverDrive Australia, the People’s Choice Award will be presented covering all three categories. 

For the successful crime writer, a strong sense of place has always been fundamental, whether it be the Sydney of Peter Corris, the Melbourne of Peter Temple, the regional and rural spaces of early colonial crime fiction or the growing body of work addressing the impact of invasion and indigenous dispossession.  Not forgetting the ways in which true crime illuminates the social context of criminal activity. 

The Chair of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival, Sue Turnbull says “Australian publishing is surfing a wave of outstanding writing about crime that is increasingly attracting international attention. The Australian crime scene has never been more vigorous or diverse”. 

The Danger Awards will be presented by the 2025 winners on 21 November during this year’s BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival. The 2025 winners were Pip Fioretti with Bone Lands for Best Crime Fiction and Mitch Jennings with A Town Called Treachery for Best Crime Fiction Debut. Amy McQuire was awarded Best Crime Non-Fiction for Black Witness and Hayley Scrivenor won the People’s Choice Award with Girl Falling.  

• Entries open: 20 July 2026

• Entries close: 20 August 2026

• Shortlist announced: 7 October 2026

• People’s Choice Voting Opens: 7 October 2026

• People’s Choice Voting Closes: 7 November 2026

• Winner announced: 21 November 2026

• Entry fee: $40

In addition to the Danger Award trophy, each winner will receive $1000 in prize money (presented at the Danger Awards night on 21 November 2026) and will be invited to speak at BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival 2027.

For more information and prize guidelines please visit www.badsydney.com 

For any further enquiries, please contact Ruby Kopsiaftis: media@badsydney.com 

For media enquiries please contact Debbie McInnes at DMCPRMEDIA

T: 02 9550 9207 | 0412 818 071 | E: debbie@dmcpr.com.au