Celebrating the 2026 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction Winner
There was plenty to celebrate at this year’s Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, with writer Ingrid Horrocks taking home the 2026 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction for her debut fiction collection, All Her Lives.
As proud supporters of the award, everyone at Acorn Foundation was thrilled to see this year’s prize awarded to a book that has already touched so many readers across Aotearoa.
Published by Te Herenga Waka University Press, All Her Lives is a collection of stories that follows nine different women across generations, countries and moments in history. The judges described the book as “deeply intelligent, moving and beautifully crafted”, praising Horrocks for the way she captures the complexity of women’s lives with warmth, humour and honesty.
It is also a significant win in New Zealand literary history. All Her Lives is only the fifth short story collection in the award’s 58-year history to receive the country’s top fiction honour.
For Ingrid Horrocks, the award marks an exciting new chapter. While many readers will already know her as a poet, memoirist and academic, this is her first work of fiction, making the win even more special.
The Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction is the richest literary prize in New Zealand, carrying a prize of $65,000. But beyond the prize money, the award plays an important role in celebrating New Zealand storytelling and championing local writers whose work helps us better understand ourselves, our communities and the world around us.
The award itself carries a deeply meaningful legacy.
Jann Medlicott was a passionate supporter of New Zealand literature and the arts. Through her generosity and vision, the fiction prize continues to shine a spotlight on outstanding New Zealand writing year after year. Her legacy lives on through the stories, writers and readers the award continues to inspire.
At Acorn Foundation, we talk about the power of long-term giving and the lasting impact generosity can have on a community. The Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction is a beautiful example of that in action. Through philanthropy, Jann created something that continues to support creativity and celebrate New Zealand voices long into the future.
The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards themselves remain one of the country’s most important celebrations of literature, recognising excellence across fiction, poetry, illustrated non-fiction, general non-fiction and te reo Māori writing. Each year, the awards highlight the depth of talent in Aotearoa and the stories that help shape our national identity.
For Acorn Foundation, being part of the awards is something we are incredibly proud of. Supporting the fiction prize reflects our belief that strong communities are built not only through practical support and investment, but also through arts, culture and storytelling.
Congratulations again to Ingrid Horrocks on this remarkable achievement, and to everyone involved in this year’s Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.
We can’t wait to see where All Her Lives takes readers next.