News 2026 Dublin Literary Award Winner Revealed
Scottish author Ali Smith has been announced today as winner of the 2026 Dublin Literary Award, sponsored by Dublin City Council, for the novel Gliff, published by Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Random House.
The Dublin Literary Award is presented annually to promote excellence in world literature. The Award, now in its 31st year, is the world’s largest prize for a single novel published in English. Uniquely, the Award receives its nominations from public libraries around the world and recognises both writers and translators.
Lord Mayor of Dublin and Patron of the Award, Councillor Ray McAdam made the announcement and Deputy Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, Anthony Flynn presented the prize to the winning author at a special ceremony during the International Literature Festival Dublin in Merrion Square Park. Anna Burns, who won the Dublin Literary Award in 2020 delivered a keynote speech to the invited audience.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam said:
“Gliff is a remarkable and deeply powerful work from author Ali Smith. Through the eyes of two young protagonists navigating an increasingly authoritarian society, we are reminded that courage is not always loud, but it is always consequential. Their resilience, their humanity, and their refusal to surrender hope speak to something timeless within us all. At a moment when democracy across the world can too often feel fragile, this novel is a powerful reminder that freedom, dignity and democratic values should never be taken for granted.”
Winner Ali Smith stated:
“I couldn’t be more amazed and delighted that my novel has come to the surface and won the Dublin Literary Award.
This is an award prized among writers, who know that the Dublin Literary Award’s formation, its ear and eye for what matters most, and its profoundly literary legacy, all make it the best – an award that dares always to be international and that knows the importance of translation – the beating heart of all writing. It’s an award whose nominations all always come from worldwide public libraries and their readers – in other words from the open heart of communal thought and imagination. It’s also an award that’s built, over its years, its own astonishing library of nominated works by a roster of writers I’m grateful now to find myself among.”