Shortlist 2026
We would like to recognise the achievements of the writers shortlisted for the 2026 Northern Writers’ Awards. Our judges and readers were highly impressed with the diverse range of talent across all the awards. We wish you every success with your writing.
Young Northern Writers’ Awards (11-14)
Vivienne Iris Askew
Hope Paxton
Tamyra Olohiye Tony-Usidamen
Young Northern Writers’ Awards (15-18)
Erin Brunniche
Courtney Denham-Simpson
Olivia Scrafton
Alexander Sutherland
Hachette Children’s Novel Award
Claire Hennon
Helen Smith
Great Northern Read Award
Katherine Carr
Freya Jackson
Jamie Pellegrin
Finchale Award for Short Fiction
Lauren Archer
Inés Gregori Labarta
Sophie Underwood
Marie Stern-Peltz
Northumbria University Student and Alumni Award
Katie Powell
Adam Sharp
Corey Toward
Sid Chaplin Award
Jordan Hayward
Kitty Muir
Lauren O’Donoghue
Arvon Award
Katie Anderson-Morrison
Kayla Kemhadjian
Helen Mort
Mie Murasa
Tamsin Rees
Northern Promise TLC awards
Elinor Clark
Fin Eavers
Julie Noble
Tempest Prize
Freya Jackson
Clare J.M. Patterson
Ilisha Purcell
Tees Valley Award
Jonathan Aldridge
Anna Byrne
Rebecca Muddiman
Pamela Plumb
Northern Debut Awards for Poetry
Sarah-Clare Conlon
Molly Knox
Jeremy Nelson
Stephen Woulds
Northern Writers’ Award for Poetry
Bob Beagrie
Ben Wilkinson
Northern Debut Award for Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction
Loren Cafferty
Becky Cherriman
Northern Debut Award for Young Adult Fiction
Elinor Clark
Lucy Nadin
Northern Writers’ Award for Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction
Polly Atkin
Thomas Lee
Charlotte Aitken Trust Awards for Fiction, Narrative Non-Fiction and YA
Yara Rodrigues Fowler
Katie Hale
Adam Sharp
Charlotte Aitken Trust Awards for Poetry
Tom Branfoot
Maria Isakova-Bennett
Caleb Klaces
Callan Waldron-Hall