THE COOPER PRIZE
A $20,000 AUD PLAYWRITING PRIZE
The 16th Street Foundation and Company 16 announce the second instalment of the Cooper Prize, a prestigious playwriting prize beaconing original theatre works.
Amidst this culture of conformity, The Cooper Prize offers something rare: freedom. A space for playwrights to write boldly and explore difficult or controversial ideas with full creative integrity. We seek to support authors who challenge assumptions - not for provocations sake, but in pursuit of truth, beauty, and a better world.
The prize is open internationally, to published or unpublished playwrights. The submissions will be reviewed by a panel of industry professionals led by Iain Sinclair and Harry Haynes. The winning playwright will receive a $20,000 AUD prize and their work will be considered for a full commission for production. All finalists will receive a professionally directed public reading of their submitted scene with professional actors.
“The Cooper Prize stands as a beacon for work that might otherwise never be heard - and in doing so, reaffirms the power of the arts to awaken, challenge, and heal.” - Philanthropist, Peter Cooper
ON THE MaiTri FOUNDATION
At the MaiTri Foundation we believe in the inherent value of human life. We hold that a free society rests on the capacity to think independently, act conscientiously, and take responsibility for oneself. We strive for a world where all are taught how to think, not what to think. We value true freedom, which isn’t the absence of boundaries and responsibilities, but the ability to create, speak, and live meaningfully within a shared sense of order, dignity, and respect for others.
THE WINNERS ANNOUCEMENT…
The 16th Street Foundation and Company 16 invite you to the announcement of The Cooper Prize 2026 winner, a prestigious international $20,000 playwriting award championing bold, original theatrical voices.
During the evening, excerpts from the top four finalists’ new theatre works will be presented through professionally directed readings, brought to life by an ensemble of Melbourne’s finest actors, culminating in the live announcement of this year’s winner.
“While many international awards exist, few actively encourage writers to sit inside the ambiguity of life – to explore its contradictions rather than resolve them. What distinguishes the Cooper Prize is its commitment to one of the most vital functions of art: to provoke thought, to expand emotional understanding, and to bridge the space between intellect and feeling.” – Associate Artistic Director of 16th Street, Harry Haynes