THE 2026 SOUTH AFRICAN LITERARY AWARDS (SALA) CALL FOR
SUBMISSIONS TO 30th JUNE 2026
The South African Literary Awards (SALA) enters the 21 st year of her epoch-making
existence of celebrating and promoting South Africa’s literary talent by announcing the
extension of the Call for Submissions in the following categories:
- Children’s Literature Award
- Youth Literature Award
- First-time Published Author Award
- k. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award
- Poetry Award
- Nadine Gordimer Short story Award
- Creative Non-fiction Literary Award
- Literary Translators Award
- Literary Journalism Award
- Novel Award
- Posthumous Literary Award
- Chairperson’s Literary Award (not open for submissions)
- Lifetime Achievement Literary Award (not open for submissions)
- National Poet Laureate Prize (not open for submissions) and
- Regional/Provincial Poet Laureate Prize
- Local Poet Laureate Prize
The wRite associates, in partnership with the National Department of Sport, Arts and
Culture (DSAC), invite South African writers to submit qualifying works for the 21 st South
African Literary Awards.
Submissions Opening date: 12th February 2026
Submissions Closing Date: 30th June 2026
