Nominations for the 2026 Dublin Literary Award Revealed

The Dublin Literary Award, sponsored by Dublin City Council, is pleased to announce the full list of nominated titles for the 2026 Dublin Literary Award. Established in 1994, the Award aims to promote excellence in world literature. Designated a UNESCO City of Literature in 2010, Dublin’s literary heritage is a significant driver of cultural tourism for the City.

The Dublin Literary Award is presented annually for a novel written in English or translated into English. The Award receives nominations from public libraries around the world and recognises both authors and translators and is the most valuable prize in the world for a single work of fiction, worth €100,000 to the winner. If the winning book has been translated, the author receives €75,000 and the translator receives €25,000.

69 titles have been nominated by 80 libraries from 36 countries for the 2026 Award, reflecting the best in fiction from Africa, Europe, Asia, USA, Canada, South America, Australia and New Zealand. Novels by 5 Irish authors are included on the 2026 list of nominated titles which also features 20 debut authors, 30 translated titles with translations in 17 languages including Brazilian Portuguese, Catalan, Chinese, Japanese and Polish.

Titles by Irish authors nominated for the 2026 Award are:

• Our London Lives by Christine Dwyer Hickey

• Camarade by Theo Dorgan

• The Boy from the Sea by Garrett Carr

• Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

• Ordinary Saints by Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin

In a new development for the Award this year, the judges will select a longlist of up to 20 titles, which will be announced on 17 February 2026 while the shortlist of 6 titles will be revealed on 7 April 2026.

The 31st winner of the Dublin Literary Award will be announced on 21 May 2026 at the Winner’s Ceremony, as part of International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFD).

Download the 2026 nominated titles here

Download a collage image of the 2026 nominated titles here