Naji Naaman Literary Prizes 2026: Celebrating Global Literary Excellence

4,127 authors from 83 countries participated in the 24th season of one of the world's most internationally diverse literary awards.

The twenty-fourth season of the prestigious Naji Naaman Literary Prizes has once again demonstrated the extraordinary power of literature to unite voices across cultures, languages, and continents.

The 2026 edition attracted an impressive 4,127 participants from 83 countries, writing in 27 languages and dialects. From this remarkable pool of talent, 88 new laureates were selected, representing a vibrant spectrum of literary expression and cultural diversity.

Founded in 2002, the Naji Naaman Literary Prizes honor works distinguished by their freedom of thought, originality of style, and commitment to promoting human values. Over the years, the awards have become a significant international literary platform, encouraging writers to transcend boundaries and contribute to a richer global cultural dialogue.

This year's winners were recognized across several categories, including Encouragement, Merit, Creativity, and Honor Prizes. The list reflects a truly international literary landscape, bringing together authors from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Arab world.

Among the laureates are writers from Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Greece, Italy, France, Morocco, Lebanon, South Korea, China, Mexico, Tunisia, Pakistan, Japan, Bulgaria, and many other countries. Their achievements highlight the continuing vitality of literature as a universal language capable of fostering understanding and human connection.

Particularly notable is the strong presence of authors from the Balkans, whose literary contributions continue to gain recognition on the international stage. Writers from Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia were represented among the prize recipients, further underscoring the region's rich literary tradition.

In July 2026, the laureates will see their selected works published, either in full or in part, in the annual prize anthology issued by the Naji Naaman Foundation for Gratis Culture (FGC). The publication is part of the foundation's ongoing mission to make literature accessible and to support cultural exchange beyond commercial barriers.

In addition to publication, the winners will receive an official certificate granting them the title of Honorary Member of the Maison Naaman pour la Culture, recognizing their contribution to contemporary literature and cultural dialogue.

The long-term impact of the Naji Naaman Literary Prizes is remarkable. Across twenty-four award seasons between 2002–2003 and 2025–2026, the competition has attracted 45,471 participants from 144 countries. During that period, 1,435 authors have been honored, while the prize anthologies have been published in an extraordinary 136 languages and dialects.

These figures testify not only to the international prestige of the awards but also to the enduring belief that literature can serve as a bridge between peoples, cultures, and generations.

As the Naji Naaman Literary Prizes enter their twenty-fifth season, they continue to affirm a vision of literature that celebrates creativity, freedom, diversity, and the shared values that connect humanity.

Naji Naaman Literary Prizes 2026 —

Complete List of Awardees

Encouragement Prizes

* Aminata Michka Barry (Senegal)

* Idrissa Barry (Senegal)

Out of Competition

*Angel (Engi) Samir Nassif (Egypt)

Merit Prizes

* Aleksandra Jež (Serbia)

* Alina Railevna Makhmutova (Ana May) (Russia/Tatarstan)

* Bernard Flory (France)

* Elena Luz Martinez (Canada/Quebec)

* Fethi Rahmani (Tunisia)

* Georgiana-Laura Gheorghe (Romania)

* Jahongir Nomozov (Mirza) (Uzbekistan, posthumous)

* Jesús Armando Molina Quiroz (Yeshua Molina) (Mexico)

* Mounira Nassib (Libya)

* Naeem bin Fath bin Mabrouk Beyt Nour (Oman)

* Niamat Elhamri (Morocco)

* Souad Zakarani (Morocco)

* Sulaiman Ahmad (Syria)

* Yang Geum-Hee (South Korea)

* Youssef Younan Trad (Lebanon)

* Željka Bašanović Marković (Serbia)

Out of Competition

* Rosa Aurora Chávez (Mexico)

* Rumbi Chen (Zimbabwe)

* Vo The Nhu Mai (Mai White) (Vietnam/Australia)

Creativity Prizes

* Aleksandra Vujisić (Montenegro)

* Alexandru Ovidiu Vintilă (Romania)

* Ankica Anchie (Biskupović) (Croatia)

* Anna Mavroidi (Greece)

* Arwa Ben Dhia (Tunisia/France)

* Bilal Al-Masri (Lebanon)

* Cao Xiaohang (China)

* Cathie Cayros (Russia/France)

* Daizy Zamora (Nicaragua)

* Daniel De Culla (Spain)

* Dušan Žugić (Serbia)

* Elisabetta Bonaparte (Italy)

* Emilija Todorova (North Macedonia/Australia)

* Félix Suárez (Mexico)

* Franca Mancinelli (Italy)

* Irena Pavlova De Odorico (North Macedonia/Italy)

* Jacques Stanley Fleury (Haiti)

* Kabishev Alexander Konstantinovich (K.A.K.) (Russia)

* Konstantinos N. Fais (Greece)

* Lan Xin (Samei) (China/United Kingdom)

* Lauren Mendinueta (Colombia)

* Laurence Chaudouêt (France)

* Li Guanchen (China)

* M. Cem Temuroğlu (Türkiye)

* Maria Grazia Vai (Italy)

* Marie-José Pascal (France)

* Miftah (Saad Yussuf) Alaliwani (Libya)

* Mirko Stikić (Serbia)

* Muhammad Islam Fida (Pakistan)

* Panagiota P. Lambri (Greece)

* Pero Pavlović (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

* Petros Isaakidis (Greece/South Africa)

* Sabrina De Canio (Italy)

* Salima (Zineb) Melizi (Algeria)

* Simone Pansolin (Italy)

* Timothée Bordenave (France)

* Vojislav Karanović (Serbia)

* Zvjezdana Preradović (Croatia)

Out of Competition

Mona Rose Doughan Jamaleddine (Lebanon/France)

Honor Prizes (For Complete Works)

* Abdallah Habib Barakat (Lebanon/France)

* Abdul-Latif Moubarak (Egypt)

* Beisa Romanić (Serbia)

* Boris Jovanović Kastel (Montenegro)

* Dušan Gojkov (Serbia)

* Fatiha Benmansour Bedran (Morocco)

* Giancarlo Sissa (Italy)

* Gordan K. Čambar (Montenegro)

* Hikmat Al-Haj (Iraq/Sweden)

* Jean-Charles Dorge (France)

* Kang Byeong-Cheol (South Korea)

* Laura Trimarchi (Italy/Monaco)

* Maureen Alsop (United States of America)

* Milena Drpa (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

* Milosav Mišo M. Mladenović (Serbia)

* Natalie Bisso (Russia/Germany)

* Rika Inami (Japan)

* Ryszard Wasilewski (Poland)

* Valentin Dimitrov (Bulgaria)

* Yuri Moskalenko (Russia)

Out of Competition

* Adem Zejnullah (Kosovo)

* Driss Maliani (Morocco)

* Éric Mériau (France)

* Hanane Abdelqader Ismaïl Ashour (Egypt)

* Sorin Cerin (Romania)

* Sultan Catto (Türkiye/United States of America)

About the Awards

Since its founding in 2002, the international literary competition has drawn 45,471 participants from 144 countries, recognized 1,435 winners, and published prize anthologies in 136 languages and dialects, making it one of the most culturally diverse literary initiatives in the world.