A shortlist has been released for the inaugural Poetry in Translation Prize, a biennial award for an outstanding poetry collection translated into English. The prize is open to living, published poets from around the world, writing in any language. Poems from each collection can be read at Granta online.
The winning poet and translator will receive an advance of $5,000, to be shared equally between them, followed by simultaneous publication in North America with New Directions, in the U.K. and Ireland with Fitzcarraldo Editions, and in Australia and New Zealand with Giramondo. The winner will be announced in January 2026. The shortlisted titles are:
With the Remains of My Hands by Priya Bains, translated by Alex Mepham (Norwegian)
A Beam of Light in the Winter from the Bowstring Played by a Crested Serpent Eagle by Bukun Ismahasan Islituan, translated by Hugu Sutej (Bunun, Isbukun dialect)
The Dust Museum by Liu Ligan, translated by Dong Li (Chinese/Mainland)
Water's Edge and Other Poems by Hiyori Kojima, translated by James Garza (Japanese)
Help Me Change My Bandages by Maniniwei, translated by Emily Lu (Chinese/Taiwan-Malaysia)
Just Land by Jaku Mata, translated by Eric Abalajon (Filipino)
The Past Is a Lonesome Town by Osdany Morales, translated by Harry Bauld (Spanish)
Life on Three Wheels by E.M. Palitha Edirisooriya, translated by Samodh Porawagamage & Kasun Pathirage (Sinhala)