Last month, the longlists for the 30th annual Newfoundland & Labrador Book Awards (NLBAs) were announced. Earlier today, the 2026 shortlists were revealed. Administered by WritersNL, with the generous support of sponsors and the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador, the NLBAs celebrate excellence in writing by authors in the province. Each award runs on a biennial cycle, with eligible books having appeared in the two previous calendar years. This year's awards are for fiction and books for children and youth. The shortlist of the latter is listed below.
Readings by the shortlisted authors will take place on October 19 at Bannerman Brewing Company (90 Duckworth St., St. John's). The award ceremony is being held on October 30 at the Colonial Building (90 Military Rd., St. John's).
The winning authors in each category receive $1,500. The two runner-ups in each category will each be awarded $500.
NLBA for Children and Youth Shortlist
Kuekuatsheu Creates the World / Kuekuatsheu ka tutak assinu, retold by Anne Picard, Innu-aimun translation by Penash Rich, illustrated by Elizabeth Jancewicz (Running the Goat Books & Broadsides)
The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall, written by Charis Cotter (Tundra Books)
A Single Dreadlock, written by Xavier Michael Campbell, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes (Groundwood Books)
JURORS: Andy Jones, Kevin Major and Sheila O'Neill
For more information, visit writersnl.ca.