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Fitzcarraldo Editions Launches Poetry in Translation Prize
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A new literary award designed to celebrate the art of translating poetry has been announced. Fitzcarraldo Editions, in collaboration with Giramondo Publishing and New directions, has established the biennial Poetry in Translation Prize, offering a $5,000 advance to be split equally between the winning poet and translator. Submissions will be accepted between July 15 and August 15, 2025.
Aims of the Prize
The Poetry in Translation Prize seeks to highlight innovative and distinctive voices in international poetry. Rachael Allen, poetry editor at Fitzcarraldo, emphasized the desire to “open our doors to new poetry in translation to give space and gain exposure to poetries we may not be aware of.” The initiative also aims to recognize the essential role of translators in literature, providing a platform and encouragement for those working with poetry.
Did You Know? The UK has seen a recent surge in sales of translated fiction, suggesting a growing appetite for international voices in literature.
Participating Publishers
The three publishers backing the prize have a strong commitment to translated works. Fitzcarraldo Editions,known for publishing Nobel laureates such as Olga Tokarczuk,Jon Fosse,and Annie Ernaux,aims to extend its dedication to diverse voices into its poetry publishing. Giramondo Publishing and New Directions share this vision, hoping the prize will bring wider recognition to deserving poets. The Association for Literary Translators of America (ALTA) also supports literary translation through awards like the ALTA First Translation Prize [[2]].
Prize Details and Timeline
The prize is open to living poets worldwide who write in languages other than English. The winning collection will be published by Fitzcarraldo Editions in the UK and Ireland, by Giramondo in Australia and New Zealand, and by New Directions in North America.The winner will be announced in January 2026, with publication of the winning collection scheduled for 2027.
Pro tip: Aspiring translators should consider this prize as an excellent chance to showcase their talent and gain recognition in the literary world.
Key Dates and Details
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Submissions Open | July 15, 2025 |
| Submissions Close | August 15, 2025 |
| Winner announcement | January 2026 |
| Publication of Winning Collection | 2027 |
The Meaning of Translation in Literature
Nick Tapper, associate publisher at giramondo, highlighted the “unique” nature of the award, emphasizing its role in bringing global poetry into English and foregrounding the importance of translation. The Stephen Spender Prize is another example of an award that celebrates poetry in translation, specifically for young people in the UK and Ireland [[3]].
The prize aims to discover works that are formally innovative, possess a strong and distinctive voice, and energize and move readers, according to Joely Day, co-editor at Fitzcarraldo. The prize money will be shared equally between the poet and the translator [[1
