FEBRUARY 6, 2026 — Organizers today announced winners of the Spring 2026 PEN Translates awards, and among the 18 selected titles were three in Arabic. Arabic-French translator Nadiyah Abdullatif also made the list with a title to be translated from French and Mauritian Creole.
Books are selected for PEN Translates awards “on the basis of outstanding literary quality, the strength of the publishing project, and their contribution to UK bibliodiversity.“
The grant, which goes to publishers, supports the translation costs of a new full-length translation into English by a UK-based publisher. It’s open twice each year for works of “all forms, genres and styles, originally published in any language other than English, and from any part of the world.”
The three Arabic titles are all to be translated by veteran, award-winning translators:
- The Field by Hamdi Abu Golayyel (Egypt), translated by Robin Moger (Saqi Books).
- Under the Neem Tree by Rania Mamoun (Sudan), translated by Elisabeth Jaquette (Comma Press).
- Your Presence Is a Danger to Your Life by Samar Yazbek (Syria), translated by Leri Price (Fitzcarraldo Editions).
Nichola Smalley, English PEN Translation Advisory Co-chair and Chair of the PEN Translates Selection Panel, said, of the selected titles:
“I can’t wait to read these books. The large number of applications meant some tough decisions, but the 18 projects we have selected encompass an inspiring range of languages, voices and themes that gives me hope for the future of UK translation publishing. Being on a panel with such frank and thoughtful colleagues from across the industry – from booksellers to agents to translators – was so rewarding, and my thanks go to them as well as to the staff at English PEN and all the publishers who worked so hard on their submissions.”
A complete list of awardees is available at the English PEN website.