World Literary Awards

Literary Awards

Browse award recipients, categories, and yearly award lists

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580 literary awards

Heinrich Mann Prize

Established
1953
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Academy of Arts, Berlin (Akademie der Künste)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around March
Essay awardLiterary awardGerman literature

A German essay award. Established in 1953, awarded by the Berlin Academy of Arts.

Prize: Monetary prize for essays

Hermann Kesten Prize (formerly Hermann Kesten Medal)

Established
1985
Frequency
Annually (since 1994), biennially (1985–1993)
Organizer
PEN Centre Germany (PEN-Zentrum Deutschland) / Sponsored by: Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literary awardHuman rights and freedom of expression supportPEN award

A German literary award given for outstanding efforts to support persecuted writers.

Prize: Prize money (€10,000)

Kassel Literary Prize for Grotesque Humor

Established
1985
Frequency
Once a year (annually)
Organizer
City of Kassel; Stiftung Brückner-Kühner (Brückner‑Kühner Foundation)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Manga, Illustration, and Visual Expression
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around February
Grotesque humor (Grotesque humor)Comic literature (Comic/comedy literature)Literary award (Literary award)

The Kassel Literary Prize (Kasseler Literaturpreis für grotesken Humor) is a German annual award for grotesque and humorous literary works. Established in 1985.

Prize: Main prize (Kassel Literary Prize for Grotesque Humor)

Kurd Laßwitz Award

Established
1981
Frequency
Once a year
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Science fictionGerman-language NovelForeign Work (translation)German-language Short FictionRadio dramaGraphic ArtworkTranslationTranslatorMovieSpecial Award

German science fiction literary award. Named after Kurd Laßwitz, it primarily targets works first professionally published in German in that year.

かけはし文学賞

Established
2014
Frequency
Biennial (every 2 years)
Organizer
Goethe-Institut Tokyo; Merck KGaA
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Translation awardLiterature prize

A literary translation prize for German-language works translated into Japanese, jointly organized by the Goethe-Institut Tokyo and Merck KGaA. Known as the Kakehashi Literature Prize since 2019.

Prize: €10,000 is awarded to each of the author and translator

Nelly Sachs Prize

Established
1961
Frequency
Biennially (every 2 years)
Organizer
City of Dortmund (Cultural Office / Kulturbüro)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around December
Literature awardInternational Literature AwardCultural Exchange and Understanding Promotion

A literature award presented biennially by the City of Dortmund to honor writers who have contributed to promoting intercultural understanding. Prize money is €15,000.

Prize: Cash prize (€15,000)

Roswitha Prize

Established
1973
Frequency
Once a year (almost every year)
Organizer
City of Bad Gandersheim (Stadt Bad Gandersheim)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
German literature awardLiterary award for women

Established in 1973, the oldest literary award in the German-speaking world exclusively for women. From the 50th edition (2026), eligibility was expanded to female writers living and working in Europe.

Prize: Roswitha Medal (medal) and monetary endowment (current €5,500 set in 1998)

Schiller Memorial Prize

Established
1955
Frequency
Every 3 years
Organizer
Baden-Württemberg State (Land Baden-Württemberg)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Target
Professional
Literature awardGerman literatureIntellectual history

Literature award sponsored by Baden-Württemberg State. Awarded every three years for outstanding achievements in German literature or intellectual history.

Prize: Main prize (Schiller Memorial Prize): 25,000 euros. Additionally, two grants for young playwrights (7,500 euros each).

Toucan Prize (Tukan-Preis)

Established
1965
Frequency
Irregular (approximately once a year)
Organizer
City of Munich (Landeshauptstadt München)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literature prizeGerman literatureRegional culture prize

A literature prize selected by the City of Munich from new publications by Munich-born writers.

Prize: 6,000 euros awarded as prize money.

Baumgarten Prize

Established
1923
Frequency
Once a year (1929–1949, excluding 1945)
Organizer
Baumgarten Board of Trustees (Baumgarten Foundation)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literary awardHungarian literature

Hungarian literary award established in 1923. Awarded annually from 1929 to 1949 (excluding 1945), it was an important authority in Hungarian literature.

Prize: Honorary literary award (prize amount unknown due to lack of documentation)

Kossuth Prize

Established
1948
Frequency
annual (generally awarded yearly, with occasional variation)
Organizer
State of Hungary (awarded by the President of Hungary since 1990; previously by the Council of Ministers)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
General Arts and Media Arts
Target
Professional
culturearts

Hungary's state-sponsored cultural award recognizing outstanding achievements in culture and the arts (Hungarian: Kossuth-díj).

Prize: Honorary state cultural award (medal/citation and national recognition)

Icelandic Literary Prize

Established
1989
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Icelandic Publishers Association
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around January
Fiction/PoetryChildren's booksAcademic/Non-fiction

The main Icelandic literary prize awarded annually by the Icelandic Publishers Association in three categories.

Prize: One book is awarded each year in each of the three categories (Fiction/Poetry, Children's books, Academic/Non-fiction). The prize amount is not specified on the page.

Jnanpith Award

Established
1961
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Bharatiya Jnanpith
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literary awardIndian literatureNational award

India's most prestigious literary award. Bharatiya Jnanpith annually honors writers' achievements.

Prize: Citation plaque, replica of bronze Saraswati statue, cash prize

Sahitya Akademi Award

Established
1954
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literary awardNational Literature AcademyLanguage-specific (Multiple Languages)

A literary award presented annually by India's National Academy of Letters, Sahitya Akademi. It targets outstanding literary works published in multiple major languages.

Prize: Plaque (Trophy) and Cash Prize

Saraswati Samman

Established
1991
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
K. K. Birla Foundation
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around March–April
Literary awardPoetryProseMultilingual (India's 23 languages)

An annual literary award presented by the K.K. Birla Foundation for outstanding prose or poetry published in one of India's 23 recognized languages.

Prize: Cash prize (₹1,500,000), certificate, and commemorative plaque

Kalaimamani

Established
1954
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram, Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Tamil Nadu
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Plays, Scripts, and Screenplays
Target
Professional
LiteratureMusicTheaterDanceFilmVisual artsFolk performing artsDramaMusical DramaFolk artsTelevision

The highest state civilian award presented by the Tamil Nadu state government to individuals who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of arts and culture.

Prize: Honorary commendation (certificate, medal, etc.)

Yuva Puraskar (Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar)

Established
2011
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Sahitya Akademi
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Literary awardFor young writersIndian literature

An annual Indian literary award established by Sahitya Akademi in 2011 for young writers under 35 years old.

Prize: Prize money ₹50,000 (Indian Rupee) and engraved copper plate

Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony

Established
2011
Frequency
Irregular
Organizer
Government of India
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
General Arts and Media Arts
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around May
Cultural harmonyCultureArts

Award established by the Government of India in 2011 to honor outstanding work promoting cultural harmony.

Prize: Rupees One Crore (ten million rupees, convertible to foreign currency), a Citation in a Scroll, a Plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.

Assam Valley Literary Award

Established
1990
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Williamson Magor Education Trust
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literary awardRegional literatureAssam literatureAssamese literature

Annual literary award established in 1990 by the Williamson Magor Education Trust to honor outstanding contributions to Assamese literature.

Prize: Cash prize, honor scroll made of Assam's Muga silk, and specially designed gold trophy.

All India Poetry Prize

Established
1988
Frequency
Irregular (approximately once a year in the past)
Organizer
The Poetry Society (India) (Organizer). Sponsors: British Council (until 2000), MHRD (co-host from 2013)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Open
PoetryEnglish poetryTranslated poetryLiterary award

All India Poetry Prize (All India Poetry Competition) organized by The Poetry Society (India). A nationwide poetry competition targeting English original poems and English translations of poems, started in 1988.

Prize: Multiple grades such as 1st Prize, 2nd Prize, 3rd Prize, etc. (English category, Hindi category, etc., depending on the year)

Jakarta Arts Council Novel Competition

Established
1974
Frequency
Biennial (every 2 years)
Organizer
Jakarta Arts Council (Dewan Kesenian Jakarta)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
General Arts and Media Arts
Target
Open
NovelLiterary awardCompetition

Biennial novel competition hosted by the Jakarta Arts Council in Indonesia (Sayembara Novel Dewan Kesenian Jakarta).

Prize: First Prize: 20,000,000 Indonesian Rupiah (approx. 2,000 USD)

Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Awards

Established
2008
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Bonyad-e She'r va Adabiyyat-e Dastan'i-ye Iraniyyan (Foundation for Persian Narrative Poetry and Literature)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Open
NovelShort storyLiterary criticismDocumentation and historiography

An Iranian literary award presented annually since 2008; top prize is 110 Bahar Azadi gold coins.

Prize: Top winner: 110 Bahar Azadi gold coins (approx. USD 33,000). Other category winners receive smaller amounts of gold coins; in some years no top winner is awarded.

Persian Speculative Art and Literature Award

Established
2004
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Non-governmental organizer (details unknown)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Open
Speculative fiction (science fiction, horror, fantasy)Persian-language literatureShort storyTranslationPublishingIndividual contribution/activity

An annual Persian-language speculative fiction award (short stories and related categories), active 2004–2014.

Irish Book Awards

Established
2006
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Irish Book Awards (independent non-profit organization since 2007). Main sponsor: An Post (since 2018)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around August
Announcement Period
around November
Novel of the YearCrime Fiction Book of the YearBest Irish Published Book of the YearNon-Fiction Book of the YearCookbook of the YearPopular Fiction Book of the YearChildren's Book of the Year, JuniorChildren's Book of the Year, SeniorTeen & Young Adult Book of the YearSports Book of the YearNewcomer of the YearIrish Language Book of the YearLifestyle Book of the YearBiography of the YearAuthor of the YearShort Story of the YearPoem of the YearBookshop of the YearThe Last Word Listeners' Choice AwardNew Voices: The An Post Writing PrizeLifetime Achievement Award

Ireland's annual literary award. Honors books and authors across multiple categories through a combination of public voting and panel judging.

Prize: Winners in each category (trophy/title). The honor of An Post Irish Book of the Year.

RTÉ Radio 1 Francis MacManus Short Story Award

Established
1985
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
RTÉ (Raidió Teilifís Éireann) / RTÉ Radio 1 (Producer: Sarah Binchy)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Film, Video, and Broadcasting
Target
Newcomer
Short storyBroadcast fiction (radio)Newcomer support

RTÉ-hosted Francis MacManus commemorative competition for short stories aimed at radio broadcast (Short Story Award).

Prize: 1st: €5,000, 2nd: €4,000, 3rd: €3,000, plus €250 each to 7 runners-up. Shortlisted works are broadcast on RTÉ and published online.

Geffen Award

Established
1999
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Best Original Speculative Fiction BookBest Original Speculative Fiction Short StoryBest Translated Science Fiction BookBest Translated Fantasy BookBest Translated Speculative Fiction Book for Youth

Annual literary award for Israeli SF and fantasy (established 1999).

Jerusalem Prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society

Established
1963
Frequency
Biennial (every 2 years)
Organizer
Organisers of the Jerusalem International Book Forum
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around May
Literature prizeInternational literature prizeLiterature prize on human rightsLifetime achievement award

A biennial international literary prize presented to writers whose works address the theme of freedom of the individual in society, awarded at the Jerusalem International Book Forum.

Prize: Jerusalem Prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society

Yitzhak Sadeh Prize for Military Literature

Established
1972
Frequency
Annual
Organizer
The Association for the Award of the Yitzhak Sadeh Prize
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Military LiteratureLiterature awardIsraeli Literature

A literary award awarded annually in Israel to the best book on a military theme.

Prize: Award given to the best military-related book (details of prize money and additional prizes not specified in the materials)

Viareggio Prize (Premio Viareggio / Premio Letterario Viareggio-Rèpaci)

Established
1930
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Premio Letterario Internazionale Viareggio-Rèpaci (Viareggio Prize Organizing Committee)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around February
Announcement Period
around July
Literature prizeNovelPoetryCriticismDebut/Newcomer prizeInternational prize (international category)Special prize

An Italian literary prize founded in 1929 and now awarded annually across multiple sections including fiction, poetry, essay, and debut works.

Prize: Literature prizes (by category: novels, poetry, criticism, etc.) and various special/international prizes

Premi Flaiano (Flaiano Prizes)

Established
1973
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Associazione Culturale Ennio Flaiano (Ennio Flaiano Cultural Association)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Plays, Scripts, and Screenplays
Target
Professional
Fiction (Literature)FilmTheaterRadio and Television

Italy's international award. Recognizes achievements in literature, film, theater, radio, and television fields.

Prize: Flaiano gold (grand prize) and category awards (best work/director/actor etc.), literature award, poetry award, Italian studies award, etc.