World Literary Awards

Literary Awards

Browse award recipients, categories, and yearly award lists

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580 literary awards

Batty Weber Prize (Prix Batty Weber)

Established
1987
Frequency
3年ごと
Organizer
国立文学センター (CNL) / ルクセンブルク政府
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
国家文学賞生涯功労賞ルクセンブルク文学

ルクセンブルクの国家文学賞。作家の全作品に対して3年ごとに授与される。

Prize: 生涯功労国家文学賞（金銭賞は提供ソースに記載なし）。

Servais Prize for Literature

Established
1992
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Servais Foundation
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literature prizeLuxembourg Literature

Luxembourg's literature prize. Established in 1992. Awarded by Servais Foundation and selected by judges. Awarded to Luxembourg writers regardless of form or language.

Prize: Main Prize (prize amount and additional prizes not specified in sources)

Malaysia Premier's Literary Award

Established
1971
Frequency
年1回（2012年以降）
Organizer
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Category A: Books/collections (novels, poetry, short stories, drama, essays/literary criticism, literary studies, biography/autobiography/memoir)Category B: Individual works published in magazines, newspapers, or anthologies (poems, short stories, drama, essays/literary criticism)Category C: Children's literature books (stories, poetry, drama)Category D: Young adult literature books (novels, short stories, poetry)

Malaysia's premier national literary award, established in 1971 and administered by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Awarded annually since 2012.

Prize: National literary recognition (specific prize money and awards not listed in sources)

Malaysian National Laureate (Sasterawan Negara)

Established
1981
Frequency
Irregular
Organizer
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Malay literatureLiterature

Malaysia's highest national literary honor (Sasterawan Negara), awarded to writers who have made outstanding contributions to Malay literature.

Prize: Honorary title (Sasterawan Negara) and national honors

National Prize for Arts and Sciences — Linguistics and Literature

Established
1945
Frequency
annual
Organizer
Secretaría de Cultura, Gobierno de México（2015年以降。それ以前はSEP）
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
General Arts and Media Arts
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around June
Linguistics and literature

The Linguistics and Literature category of the national award "Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes" presented by the Mexican government. Recognizes individuals (or groups) with outstanding achievements in linguistics and literature.

Prize: Gold medal, rosette, government-issued diploma, and cash prize

Xavier Villaurrutia Award

Established
1955
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Unión de Escritores Mexicanos
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literary prizeSpanish-language literatureMexican literary prizes

Literary prize awarded to Spanish-language works published in Mexico. Established in 1955.

Prize: Honorary award (no publicly available prize money information)

FIL Literary Award in Romance Languages

Established
1991
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
University of Guadalajara, Government of the State of Jalisco, Government of Guadalajara, Government of Zapopan, University of Guadalajara Foundation A.C., Fibra Educa, Arca Continental, and Bancomext (Civil Association FIL Literary Award in Romance Languages)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around August
Literary awardRomance languages (Spanish, Catalan, Galician, French, Occitan, Italian, Romanian, Portuguese)Lifetime achievement recognition

An international literary award presented to writers who write in Romance languages. Established in 1991, with a prize of 150,000 USD.

Prize: 150,000 USD prize money (recognition for the writer's lifetime achievements)

Madan Puraskar

Established
1955
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Madan Puraskar Guthi
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around September–October
Literature awardNepali LiteratureBooks

Nepal's premier literary award presented to outstanding books written in Nepali.

Prize: Cash prize (since 2005)

Esther Glen Award (LIANZA Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award)

Established
1945
Frequency
Annually (in principle)
Organizer
New Zealand Book Awards Trust (formerly administered by LIANZA; merged in 2016)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Children's literatureJunior fictionNew Zealand literature

New Zealand's oldest children's literature award. Awarded by LIANZA to the writer who has made the most outstanding contribution to junior fiction.

Prize: Honorary award (no public information on prize money or goods)

Joy Cowley Award

Established
2002
Frequency
Once a year (only in applicable years)
Organizer
Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around March
Children's literaturePicture booksManuscript contestNew Zealand

Open award targeting children's picture book manuscripts in New Zealand. Established to honor Joy Cowley's achievements.

Prize: NZ$1500 and publication offer from Scholastic New Zealand

Sir Julius Vogel Award

Established
1989
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
SFFANZ (Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around June–August
SFFantasyHorrorFan activityDramatic presentationArtworkPublishing/production

Annual award recognizing achievements in New Zealand science fiction, fantasy, horror, and fandom.

Prize: Prestige of winning (trophy/recognition) and category-specific certification.

Ockham New Zealand Book Awards

Established
1996
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
New Zealand Book Awards Trust
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around October
Announcement Period
around May
Fiction (Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction)General non-fictionIllustrated non-fictionPoetry (Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry)Te Mūrau o te Tuhi – Māori Language AwardBest First Book awards (各部門)

New Zealand's major literary award held annually. Began with the 1996 integration, underwent sponsor name changes, now primarily sponsored by Ockham.

Prize: Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction — top fiction prize (minimum NZ$55,000)

Ngaio Marsh Awards

Established
2010
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
WORD Christchurch (Christchurch Writers & Readers Festival). Founder: Craig Sisterson (key figure in founding and launch)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around October
Crime fictionMysteryThrillerNon-fiction (true crime)Younger ReadersBest First Novel

Annual literary award for New Zealand crime novels, mysteries, and thrillers.

Prize: 2010–2012: Handmade trophy by sculptor + Ngaio Marsh book set + cash prize. From 2013: Framed plaque + Ngaio Marsh book set + cash prize (amount not disclosed)

Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award (Margaret Mahy Award)

Established
1991
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand (Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki o Aotearoa)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around February
Children's literatureLiterary prizeMedal and lecture awardNew Zealand children's literary awards

New Zealand's most prestigious honour for children's and young adult authors, illustrators and publishers, awarded annually since 1991 for lifetime achievement.

Prize: Medal (Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal) and the opportunity to deliver the Margaret Mahy Lecture (published in the trust's yearbook, The Inside Story).

Prime Minister's Awards for Literary Achievement

Established
2003
Frequency
annual
Organizer
Creative New Zealand (Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around August
Announcement Period
around November
FictionNonfictionPoetryNew Zealand literature

New Zealand award established in 2003; three annual awards (Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry) each worth NZ$60,000.

Prize: Each winner in the three categories (Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry) receives NZ$60,000.

Nigeria Prize for Literature

Established
2004
Frequency
Once a year (genres rotate on a 4-year cycle)
Organizer
Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (sponsor); Nigerian Academy of Science (selection administration) with advisory board from Nigerian Academy of Letters and Association of Nigerian Authors
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around October
FictionPoetryDramaChildren's literature

Annual Nigerian literary award rotating among fiction, poetry, drama and children's literature; sponsored by NLNG; US$100,000 prize.

Prize: US$100,000 to an individual winner (cash prize)

Engineer Mohammed Bashir Karaye Prize for Hausa Writing

Established
2007
Organizer
Bashir Karaye Foundation (funding) and Association of Nigerian Authors Abuja Chapter (management and operation)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Open
Hausa literatureNigerian literary awards

Nigerian literary award for authors publishing works in Hausa. Established in 2007.

Prize: Winners receive recognition, but details on prize money and additional prizes are not publicly available

Halldis Moren Vesaas Prize

Established
1995
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Olaf Norli Bokhandel
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Professional
PoetryLyric poetryNorwegian literature prize

An annual literary prize awarded to Norwegian poets. Targets those who have established important voices in the Norwegian poetry scene through the quality and volume of their works such as lyric poetry. Established in 1995. No awards given since 2007.

Prize: Honorary award recognizing poetic achievements (no prize money announced / not mentioned in materials)

NBU-prisen

Established
1988
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Norwegian Writers for Children (Norske Barne- og Ungdomsbokforfattere, NBU)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Children's literatureNorwegian literary awards

A prize awarded by the Norwegian Writers for Children (NBU) to an individual or institution that has made a notable contribution to children's and youth literature in Norway.

Prize: A work of art (typically created by an illustrator of children's books); no cash prize specified in source.

Norwegian Academy Prize in memory of Thorleif Dahl

Established
1983
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature (Det Norske Akademi for Sprog og Litteratur)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
LiteraturePoetryNonfictionTranslation

An award presented by the Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature for literature, poetry, non-fiction written in riksmål, or translations into riksmål.

Prize: Cash prize and commendation awarded to the winner (honor in literature and translation fields)

Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature

Established
1950
Frequency
Annual
Organizer
Norwegian Literature Critics' Association (Norsk Litteraturkritikerlag)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
成人文学 (小説・詩・短編)児童・ヤングアダルト文学翻訳ノンフィクション文学評論年間最優秀文芸批評家 (1994年〜)

Awarded annually by the Norwegian Literature Critics' Association to outstanding Norwegian literary works; established in 1950.

Prize: Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature (literary recognition). Monetary amount not specified in the provided source.

Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature

Established
1950
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc.
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around June
Announcement Period
around November
NovelShort StoryShort Story for ChildrenEssayPoetryPoetry for ChildrenOne-Act PlayFull-Length PlayScreenplay (Filipino)Regional Short Story (Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Iluko)Kabataan Division (Youth essays/sanaysay)

The most prestigious literary award representing the Philippines. Established in 1950, held annually, and has produced many renowned writers.

Prize: Awards and honors such as 1st to 3rd place in each category (may include publication support or performance support upon winning).

Philippine National Book Awards

Established
1982
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Filipino Critics Circle (FCC) and National Book Development Board (NBDB)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around February
Novel in EnglishNovel in FilipinoShort Fiction in EnglishShort Fiction in FilipinoNonfiction Prose in EnglishNonfiction Prose in FilipinoAnthology in EnglishAnthology in FilipinoLiterary Criticism/Cultural StudiesMedia StudiesPoetry in EnglishPoetry in FilipinoGraphic Novel and Comics in EnglishGraphic Novel and Comics in FilipinoTranslated Book in EnglishTranslated Book in FilipinoDrama and FilmArtSocial SciencesPhilosophyHistoryHumor, Sports, Lifestyle, and BusinessFoodScienceSpirituality and TheologyProfessionsJournalismDesignGerardo P. Cabochan Prize (short fiction in Filipino)Cirilo F. Bautista Prize (short fiction in English)Pablo A. Tan Prize (nonfiction prose in English)Philippine Literary Arts Council Prize (poetry in English)Victorio C. Valledor Prize (poetry in Filipino)Alfonso T. Ongpin Prize (art)Elfren S. Cruz Prize (social sciences)John C. Kaw Prize (history)Hilarion and Esther Vibal Prize (journalism)

Annual Philippine literary awards recognizing the best books written, designed, and published in the Philippines; organized by the Manila Critics' Circle and co‑administered by the National Book Development Board.

Prize: Cash awards provided by donors and the NBDB, and the National Book Awards perpetual trophy (designed by Apolinario L. Aquino Jr.).

Found in Translation Award

Established
2007
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Book Institute (Instytut Książki), Polish Cultural Institute in London, Polish Cultural Institute in New York (W.A.B. Publishing House participated at founding, Polish Institute in New Delhi joined in 2016)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around January
Announcement Period
around April–May
Translation awardLiterary TranslationPolish Literature

Annual award for outstanding translations of Polish literature into English.

Prize: Cash prize awarded to the winning translator (16,000 zł)

Nautilus Award

Established
2003
Frequency
Annual (irregular; several times since 2010)
Organizer
Science Fiction (Polish magazine); created by Robert J. Szmidt
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Science fictionFantasyPolish literary award

A Polish science fiction and fantasy award created by Robert J. Szmidt of the Science Fiction magazine, presented from 2003 to 2012 with gaps in 2008 and 2011. A planned 2014 edition was cancelled due to controversies over vote counting, effectively ending the award.

Prize: Recognition for five novels and short stories annually (no monetary amount specified in source).

Solzhenitsyn Prize

Established
1997
Frequency
annual
Organizer
Alexander Solzhenitsyn / Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Center
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literary awardRussian literary awardRussian-language literaturenon-governmental

Non-governmental Russian literary prize established by Alexander Solzhenitsyn in 1997, awarded for works portraying Russian life with moral purity and a sense of tragedy.

Prize: Monetary prize awarded to authors whose works depict the troubles of Russian life with moral purity and a sense of tragedy; financed by royalties from The Gulag Archipelago.

Russian Booker Prize

Established
1992
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Russian Telecom Equipment Company (RTEC)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Professional
Literary awardRussian-language fictionNovel

Literary award given to outstanding fiction works written in Russian. Established in 1992 and awarded annually until 2017.

Prize: Cash prize to the winner (amount varies by year); sub-prizes also paid to shortlisted works

Yasnaya Polyana Literary Award

Established
2003
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Yasnaya Polyana (Leo Tolstoy State Museum) and Samsung Electronics (Samsung)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around September
Announcement Period
around October
Modern Russian ProseForeign FictionNew Adult / YouthPersonality of the YearMissed MasterpieceReaders' ChoiceYasnaya Polyana School of Criticism Review

Annual literary award established in 2003 by the Leo Tolstoy State Museum and Samsung, targeting works in Russian (or Russian translations).

Prize: Prize money by category (high amounts for main categories), custom statuette for winners. Readers' Choice includes supplementary prizes such as a themed tour to Korea (provided by Samsung), etc.

Isidora Sekulić Award

Established
1967
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Savski Venac municipality (Belgrade)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literary awardSerbian literatureLiterature

Serbian literary award established in 1967 by the Savski Venac municipality in Belgrade.

NIN Award (Award for Best Novel of the Year)

Established
1954
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
NIN (weekly magazine)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around January
Novel AwardAnnual Best NovelSerbian Literature Award

Annual Best Novel Award presented once a year in Serbia. Established by NIN magazine in 1954.

Prize: NIN Award (Annual Best Novel Award)