World Literary Awards

Literary Awards

Browse award recipients, categories, and yearly award lists

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580 literary awards

Epigram Books Fiction Prize

Established
2015
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Epigram Books
Selection Method
Open call
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around January–February
Literature prizeEnglish-Language NovelsDebut Works

An annual literary prize established in 2015 by Singaporean publisher Epigram Books, targeting unpublished novels written in English.

Prize: The winning work receives a cash prize, and publication and promotion opportunities are often provided (past prize examples available).

Singapore Literature Prize

Established
1992
Frequency
Biennial (every 2 years)
Organizer
Singapore Book Council (with support from the National Arts Council)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Open
Poetry (Chinese)Poetry (English)Poetry (Malay)Poetry (Tamil)Prose (Chinese)Prose (English)Prose (Malay)Prose (Tamil)

A biennial literary prize that recognizes outstanding works by Singaporean authors published in Chinese, English, Malay, and Tamil. Organized by the Singapore Book Council (SBC).

Prize: Awards for the best works in each language and genre (since 2014, total 12 awards across language × genre, up to SGD 10,000 each)

Fabula Award

Established
2006
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Beletrina Publishing Institute (organizer) and Dnevnik Publishing House (prize sponsor)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Professional
Short story collectionShort fictionSlovenian literary award

Literary award given annually to short story collections written in Slovenian.

Prize: Monetary prize awarded to the winner (details not specified in the source)

Jenko Award

Established
1986
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Slovene Writers' Association (DSP)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around October
PoetryLiterary awardSlovenia

Slovenian annual literary prize awarded for the best poetry collection in Slovene.

Prize: Award for the best poetry collection in Slovene (specific monetary amount not stated in the source).

Kresnik Award

Established
1991
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Delo (Delo Media House, Slovenia's national newspaper)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around June
NovelSlovenian literatureLiterary award

Annual literary award given to the best novel written in Slovenian from the previous year.

Prize: Monetary prize and honor (including traditional ceremonies such as lighting a bonfire at the award ceremony)

Levstik Award

Established
1949
Frequency
Annually (1949–1989), biennially (since 1989)
Organizer
Mladinska Knjiga Publishing House
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around June
Children's literatureIllustrationChildren's non-fictionLifetime Achievement Award

A literary award for Slovenian children's literature. Established in 1949, sponsored by Mladinska Knjiga Publishing House.

Prize: Commemorative award (certificate, trophy, etc.). No public information on prize money available

Prešeren Award (Grand Prešeren Award)

Established
1946
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Prešeren Fund (Prešernov sklad) — operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia
Selection Method
Open call / Recommendation
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around September
Announcement Period
around February
LiteratureVisual artsPerforming artsMusicAcademia (historically: Science)

Slovenia's highest award in the arts field. Generally, up to 2 recipients per year.

Prize: Monetary prize and honor. Prešeren Award pays three times the amount of Prešeren Fund Award (Small Prešeren Award) (no specific amount mentioned in the text).

Prešeren Award (Grand Prešeren Award)

Established
1946
Frequency
年1回（毎年2月8日のプレシェレン・デーの前夜に授賞式）
Organizer
プレシェレン財団管理委員会（スロベニア文化省の管轄下）
Selection Method
Open call / Recommendation
Category
General Arts and Media Arts
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around September
Announcement Period
around February
ArtsLiteratureCulture

The highest public award in the arts field in Slovenia. In principle, awarded to 2 people annually.

Prize: Honor (commendation) and monetary reward. The Prešeren Award has three times the monetary amount of the Prešeren Fund Award (small award).

Rožanc Award

Established
1993
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Marjan Rožanc Society (Društvo Marjana Rožanca)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around September
EssayLiterary awardSlovenian-language literature

Annual literary award given to essay collections in the Slovenian language. Established in 1993.

Prize: Recognition for the best essay collection (prize money not publicly announced)

Veronika Award

Established
1997
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Municipality of Celje
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Professional
PoetryLiterary awardSlovenian literature

Annual literary award given to the best poetry collection in Slovenian language.

Prize: Monetary prize for the winning poetry collection (amount not specified)

Vilenica International Literary Prize

Established
1986
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Slovene Writers' Association; Cultural Centre Vilenica
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around September
Central European literatureInternational literary prizeFestival award

Established in 1986. An international literary prize awarded to writers from Central Europe for outstanding achievements in literature and essays.

Prize: Cash prize (10,000 euros as of 2016) and translation and publication of the winning work into Slovenian

Alan Paton Award (Sunday Times CNA Literary Awards — Non-fiction)

Established
1989
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
The Sunday Times (organizer), CNA (sponsor since 2021)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around October–November
NonfictionLiterary awardSouth Africa

Major South African non-fiction literary award established in 1989. Organized by The Sunday Times, with R100,000 awarded to the winner.

Prize: R100,000 (South African Rand) awarded to the non-fiction category winner

Alba Bouwer Prize

Established
1989
Frequency
triennial (every 3 years)
Organizer
South African Academy of Science and Arts
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Children's literatureAfrikaans-language literatureChildren's book award

Prize for outstanding children's literature in Afrikaans, awarded triennially by the South African Academy of Science and Arts.

Amstel Playwright of the Year Award

Established
1978
Frequency
annual
Organizer
null
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Plays, Scripts, and Screenplays
Target
Professional
Dramatist and playwright awardsSouth African literary awardsTheatre awards

Independent South African prize for playwrights awarded from 1978 to 1994.

Prize: null

ATKV Prose Prize

Established
1984
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
ATKV (Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around September
Afrikaans literatureProseSouth African literary awards

A literary award awarded annually by ATKV to prose works published in Afrikaans.

Prize: ATKV Prose Prize (Annual award for Afrikaans prose works)

Barry Ronge Fiction Prize

Established
2001
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
The Sunday Times (South Africa), sponsored by CNA
Selection Method
Open call
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around June–November
FictionNovelSouth African literature

South African fiction award hosted by The Sunday Times. The winner receives R100,000.

Prize: R100,000 (South African Rand) to the winner

C.P. Hoogenhout Award

Established
1960
Frequency
Annually (1960–1981), biennially (from 1982 onwards)
Organizer
South African Library Association (organizer). Sponsored by SALI Trust from 2000 onwards.
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Children's literaturePicture bookAfrikaans-language literatureSouth African literary awards

Established in 1960. South African literary award recognizing the best children's books (especially picture books) written in Afrikaans for ages 7–12.

Prize: Gold medal

Central News Agency Literary Award

Established
0
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
CNA (bookstore)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Open
LiteratureNovelsPoetryEnglish literatureAfrikaans literature

A major annual literary award formerly held in South Africa. Targeted prose and poetry in English and Afrikaans.

Prize: Honor of winning (prize money and prize details not specified in the materials)

David Higham Prize for Fiction

Established
1975
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
David Higham
Selection Method
Selection
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Newcomer
First book awardsBritish fiction awardsCommonwealth literary awardsIrish literary awardsPakistani literary awardsSouth African fiction awards

Literary award for debut novels or short story collections established in 1975. For citizens of the Commonwealth etc., discontinued in 1999.

Prize: Award honoring debut novels or short story collections

Dinaane Debut Fiction Award

Established
2004
Frequency
Once a year (in principle, though suspended in some years)
Organizer
Jacana Literary Foundation (JLF) / Jacana Media
Selection Method
Open call
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Newcomer
Debut Novel AwardUnpublished Fiction (Novel / Novella)Southern African Literature

Literary award targeting unpublished debut novels/novellas from Southern Africa. Winners receive prize money and a publishing contract.

Prize: Winners are awarded R35,000 (South African Rand) and a publishing contract with Jacana Media. Additionally, promising manuscripts receive the Kraak Writing Grant (R25,000).

Exclusive Books Boeke Prize

Established
1995
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Exclusive Books
Selection Method
Selection
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Professional
NovelsFictionEnglish-language works

A book prize targeting English novels, hosted by Exclusive Books in South Africa from 1995 to 2012.

Eugène Marais Prize

Established
1961
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around April–May
Literary awardDebut AwardAfrikaans Literature

South African literary award targeting early publications (debut/early works) in Afrikaans.

Prize: Winners receive prize money and recognition from the Akademie (prize money as of 2009: R22,000).

Hertzog Prize (Hertzogprys)

Established
1914
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (South African Academy for the Sciences and Art)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Professional
PoetryProseDramaScientific prose (previously established category)

Annual prestigious literary award given to Afrikaans writers (poetry, prose, and drama categories).

Prize: Honorary award (highest honor in Afrikaans literature)

Ingrid Jonker Prize

Established
1965
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Ingrid Jonker Prize Committee (administered by Prof. Marius Crous, Nelson Mandela University)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Newcomer
PoetryDebut literary awardSouth African literary awardAfrikaans/English

Annual South African literary award given to debut poetry collections written in Afrikaans or English.

Prize: Cash prize (R10,000) and medal awarded

M-Net Literary Awards

Established
1991
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
M-Net (Electronic Media Network)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Film, Video, and Broadcasting
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around October
EnglishAfrikaansNguni (Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swati)SeSotho (Sotho, Pedi, Tswana)TshiVendaSeTsongaFilmDebutLifetime Achievement

Multilingual literary award organized by South Africa's M-Net from 1991 to 2013.

Prize: Prize money is awarded to winners in each language category. R50,000 since 2011 (previously R30,000). Special categories such as Film Award, Debut Award, Lifetime Achievement Award.

Maskew Miller Longman Literature Awards

Established
1980
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Maskew Miller Learning (formerly Pearson South Africa)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around November
Children's literatureYouth literatureNovelsDramaShort storiesIllustration11 official languages of South Africa

Public award for youth literature established by South African publisher Maskew Miller Longman, accepting submissions in 11 official languages.

Prize: Recognition for winners and opportunities for publication and promotion of the works. No specific prize amount is mentioned in the sources.

Media24 Books Literary Awards

Established
0
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Media24
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around June
Novel/FictionPoetryNonfictionChildren's literatureYoung AdultEnglish LiteratureAfrikaans Literature

Annual South African literary awards hosted by Media24, comprising multiple categories. Targets books published by Media24 affiliate publishers, with prize money awarded to winners in each category.

Prize: Prize money awarded to the winner in each category (R35,000 per category)

Olive Schreiner Prize

Established
1961
Frequency
Once a year (genres rotate every 3 years)
Organizer
English Academy of Southern Africa
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Newcomer
DramaProsePoetryFor new writersSouthern Africa targeted

Literary prize targeting emerging English writers from Southern Africa, honoring drama, prose, and poetry genres on a rotating basis. Established in 1961.

Prize: Award recognizing new drama, prose, and poetry works. Primarily honorary, with prize money not substantial (R5,000 as of 2010).

Percy FitzPatrick Award

Established
1970
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
English Academy of Southern Africa (formerly South African Library Association / SAILIS)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around May–August
Children's literatureSouth African literary awardsChildren's literary awards

A literary award given to children's books written in English in South Africa. Established in 1970.

Prize: Top award given to English children's books in South Africa (Percy FitzPatrick Award)

Sol Plaatje Prize for Translation

Established
2007
Frequency
Biennial
Organizer
English Academy of South Africa
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Translation awardLiterary awardTranslation to EnglishSouth African

A biennial prize for translation of prose or poetry into English from South Africa's other official languages, administered by the English Academy of South Africa.

Prize: Prize awarded to translators for excellence in translating prose or poetry into English (monetary amount not specified in the source).