The Cooper Prize 2026 – Playwriting Prize

The Cooper Prize, presented by the 16th Street Foundation and Company 16, is an international playwriting award supporting bold, original theatre writing. The prize is designed to give playwrights creative freedom to explore complex, challenging, or controversial ideas through dramatic work. Submissions are assessed by an industry panel led by established theatre professionals. Finalists receive a staged public reading with professional actors, and the winning work receives a $20,000 AUD award along with consideration for full production commissioning. The prize emphasises artistic integrity and the exploration of philosophical and human themes inspired by works such as Man’s Search for Meaning and The Brothers Karamazov.