Books by Robert J. Sawyer, Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee, and Kate Beaton are among the 2026 Aurora Award winners

The Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFFA) has named the winners of the annual Aurora Awards.

The awards honour sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writing in 10 categories, and work is nominated by members of the association. Winners were announced during an online ceremony on August 9, during which the three writers inducted this year into the Canadian sci-fi hall of fame were also honoured.

The winners of this year’s Aurora Awards were selected from shortlists announced in April.

The winners are:

Best Novel

• The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine by Robert J. Sawyer (Shadowpaw Press)

Best Young Adult Novel

• Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee (Wednesday Books/Macmillan Publishers)

Best Novelette/Novella

• The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (Tordotcom/Macmillan Publishers)

Best Short Story

• “The Stone Played at Tengen” by R.H. Wesley (Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 230)

Best Graphic Novel/Comic

• Shark Girl by Kate Beaton (Roaring Brook Press)

Best Poem/Song

• “From Dust” by J. Y. Zhang (Small Wonders)

Best Related Work

• Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three by Stephen Kotowych, ed. (Ansible Press)

Best Cover Art/Interior Illustration

• Listen to Me and I’ll tell You a Story by Ejiwa “Edge” Ebenebe (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 66)

Best Fan Writing and Publication

• Polar Starlight Magazine, Issues 17-20 by Rhea E. Rose, ed.

Best Fan Related Work

• Can*Con, Marie Bilodeau, chair and Brandon Crilly, vice-chair, Ottawa