Ukrainian writer, poet, and translator Yuri Andrukhovych has been shortlisted for the 2026 Neustadt International Prize for Literature.
This was announced by the award's organizer, the American literary magazine World Literature Today.
Andrukhovych was nominated for his collection Set Change. Eight other authors were also shortlisted alongside him:
- Elif Batuman with her book Possessed;
- Mei-Mei Berssenbrugge for her Treatise on Stars;
- Robert Olen Butler with Had a Good Time;
- Safia Elhillo with her collection January Children;
- Mathias Enard with his novel Tell Them About the Battles, Kings, and Elephants;
- Ibrahim Nasrallah with The Time of the White Horses;
- Yoko Tawada with her book The Messenger;
- Jasmine Ward with her book Sing, Unburied, Sing.
The winner will be announced on October 21, 2025, during the Neustadt Lit Fest, which takes place from October 20 to 22.
Nine jury members—writers and translators—selected all finalists and will gather to determine the winner.
Background
Established in 1970, the Neustadt International Prize is one of the few literary awards of this magnitude in the United States. It covers poets, prose writers, playwrights, and screenwriters. It is awarded every two years for significant contributions to world literature. The winner receives $50,000, a silver replica of an eagle's feather, a certificate, and a special festival in their honor. Past recipients of the award include Gabriel García Márquez, Czesław Miłosz, and Edwige Danticat.
Author: Danylo Pievchev