The Swedish Academy awarded the literature Nobel to Canadian poet and essayist Anne Carson, 76, citing work that invents new forms in dialogue with the classical tradition.
Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday. The Swedish Academy cited her bold and inventive body of work that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature.
Carson is 76. BBC reported that she told Icelandic public broadcaster RUV, where she is staying, that the judges were crazy for honouring her. The New York Times, citing her agent Nicole Aragi, reported that her reaction on learning of the prize was Yikes.
The prize is for a lifetime of work and carries 12 million Swedish kronor, about 1.2 million dollars. Anders Olsson, chair of the academy's Nobel committee for literature, said Carson had broken away from lyrical poetry bound to the narrative self. Permanent secretary Ingrid Carlberg said she had told Carson by phone before the announcement.
The New York Times described Carson as the third Canadian-born writer to receive the literature prize, after Alice Munro in 2013 and Saul Bellow in 1976. It also noted that last year's prize went to Hungarian novelist Laszlo Krasznahorkai and that bookmakers had listed Carson and Chinese writer Can Xue among the favorites.
The award was announced in Stockholm. No Canadian government response was included in the reports used here.
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- Carson told RUV the judges were crazy for honouring her.
- Her agent said her reaction was Yikes.