EBRD Literature Prize

The EBRD Literature Prize is a literary prize established in 2017 by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in cooperation with the British Council. It was first awarded in 2018. As per the bank, the prize celebrates the "literary richness" of its regions of operation, which include more than 40 countries across Europe, Asia and Africa.^[1]

Each year, the prize is awarded for a novel or collection of short stories by a single author translated into English from a language of an economy where the EBRD currently invests. From the works submitted for consideration, ten are shortlisted, from which three are later chosen as finalists. The final winner is revealed at an awards ceremony and awarded €20,000, which is shared equally between the writer and translator. The authors and translators of the two other finalist books receive €2,000 each.

The prize is now entirely funded by the bank’s shareholders through its Community Initiative.

Entries are judged by an independent panel, composed of a chair and two or three other judges. The chair is in post for three years; the other judges are appointed yearly.

Rosie Goldsmith was chair of judges 2018–2020 and Toby Lichtig 2021–2023. Maya Jaggi is chair 2024–2026.

The inaugural winner of the EBRD Literature Prize was Istanbul Istanbul,^[2] by the Turkish writer Burhan Sönmez, translated by Ümit Hussein.