If you're an Australian playwright with an un-produced script sitting in a drawer (or more likely, a Google Drive folder you haven't opened in months), this is your sign to dust it off. The Australian Theatre Festival NYC has just opened submissions for their 2026 New Play Award, and they're offering $20,000 USD in total prize money—$15,000 for the winner and $5,000 for the runner-up.
Now in its seventh year, this is the only award of its kind in the United States dedicated exclusively to Australian voices. And the track record speaks for itself: past winners have gone on to premiere at Sydney Theatre Company, win major Australian literary awards, and get published by Playlab Theatre.
What You Could Win
The winner receives:
- $15,000 USD cash prize
- Development work with Co-Artistic Director, Mark Barford
- A publishing commitment from Playlab Theatre
- A staged reading as part of the Australian Theatre Festival NYC (if they can appropriately cast NYC-based Australian actors)
The runner-up receives:
- $5,000 USD cash prize
The prize money is sponsored by Shane and Cathryn Brennan, who have been supporting the award for years.
Past Winners Have Done Pretty Well
This award has launched some serious careers:
- 2025 Winner Dylan Van Den Berg's The Flood will be published by Playlab Theatre in 2026
- 2021 Winner Lewis Treston's Hubris & Humiliation premiered at Sydney Theatre Company, where The Guardian called it “startlingly good” with five stars
- 2022 Winner Melissa-Kelly Franklin's Paradise Lost went on to win the 2024 Jill Blewett Playwright's Award at the South Australian Literary Awards
2023 winner Sally Alrich-Smythe said of the experience:
“Winning The New Play Award meant so much more than the prize money and accolades attached (though that’s unreal too!). From the first Zoom call, I was struck by how much the team at Australian Theatre Festival cared about my show. They wanted the best for it, and threw everything they had at giving it a platform. And the efforts of everyone paid off: seeing my play read out by a group of exceptional actors, supported by awesome design and direction, on a stage on 42nd st in New York City? Something I’ll never forget. I’d recommend the experience to any playwright”.
Are You Eligible?
To submit, your play or musical must:
- Be written by a writer or writing team who are all Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia. For Musicals, all members of the writing team (Composer, Lyricist, Librettist) must be Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia.
- Be at least 60 minutes in length.
- Not have been previously submitted to the Australian Theatre Festival NYC New Play Award.
- Not have been previously published, including self-published.
- Not have been previously produced at a production level in any context (previous readings, fellowships and workshops are acceptable but will need to be disclosed and listed upon submission).
- Not be encumbered by agreements or contracts for future production/s.
- At the time of submissions close date (Thursday February 12th, 2026), not have won, been a runner-up, or a finalist in another Australian or International writing award (short or long listed is permissible).
It's free to submit.
Key Dates
- Submissions open: Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 8am EST
- Submissions close: Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 8am EST
- Finalists announced: Thursday, April 2, 2026
- Winner & Runner-Up announced: Thursday, April 16, 2026
How to Submit
Complete the submission form here: 2026 New Play Award Submission Form
You can only submit one entry per writer or writing team. If you win as a team, you'll receive a single prize and sort out how to split it among yourselves.
About Australian Theatre Festival NYC
The Australian Theatre Festival NYC has been celebrating and showcasing Australian stories and artists in New York City for years now. I've been a supporter since the early days—it's one of those organizations that genuinely brings our community together and puts Australian talent on a global stage.
If you've got a story to tell, this is your shot.
Terms and Conditions
- Due to the large volume of entries, The Australian Theatre Festival NYC is unable to give feedback.
- Plays/Musicals submitted may be original ideas or adaptations from other forms providing that permission to adapt the material has been obtained from the copyright holder. The rights for all material in the work must be secured by the writer prior to entry, including any songs, poems or quotes.
- The Australian Theatre Festival NYC has worldwide first right of refusal to produce the winning play/musical for a period of 12 months following the announcement date of the winner.
- A limit of one entry per writer/writing team.
- If submitting as a writing team, a single cash prize will be awarded to the writing team. It is the responsibility of the writing team to decide how to divide this single cash prize between themselves.
