Adam NZ Play Award 2026

Formerly called the Playmarket New New Zealand Play Award, the Adam NZ Play Award is the only one of its kind for new playwriting in Aotearoa. Writers are encouraged to banish self-censoring, worries about what theatres want, what is affordable, or what they think audiences want to see.

Submissions will be read blind by a panel of industry professionals.

Prizes & Categories

Thanks to the generosity of the Adam Foundation, a total of $8,000 in prizes is offered. Prizes may include:

Best Play

Best Play by a Māori Playwright

Best Play by a Pasifika Playwright

Best Play by a Woman Playwright (or any identification determined by the judges)

Additional Awards

The Dean Parker Adaptation or Non-fiction Award ($1,000): Offered to a play adapted from a work of fiction, or a docudrama or verbatim work.

McNaughton South Island Play Award ($2,000): Submissions from South Island residents may also be considered for this award. (To be eligible, playwrights must have been residing in the South Island for at least 5 years at the time of submitting).

Eligibility & Guidelines

To be eligible, plays must not have had a professional production before 1 December of the year of submission. (Plays that have had readings, workshops, and community productions are eligible).

Each script may only be submitted to this competition once.

There are no limits on length, style, theme, or cast size.

You may submit a maximum of 3 scripts.

Cultural Consultation: We strongly recommend that when playwrights are including stories or characters in their plays that are not of the playwright's own culture (e.g., te ao Māori or Pasifika), they consult with the relevant community at the earliest possible stage of writing.