The Swedish Academy awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature to Canadian poet and essayist Anne Carson for work that remakes classical forms.
The Swedish Academy awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday to the Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson. The academy cited her for a body of work that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature.
Carson, 76, is known for translations of ancient Greek and for books that move between poetry, essay and scholarship, including Autobiography of Red. The New York Times reported she is the third Canadian-born writer to receive the prize, after Saul Bellow in 1976 and Alice Munro in 2013. The prize is 12 million Swedish kronor, about 1.2 million dollars.
Permanent secretary Ingrid Carlberg said she told Carson by phone shortly before the announcement, the Guardian reported. The BBC said Carson, who was in Iceland, told public broadcaster RUV that the judges were crazy for honouring her. Her agent, Nicole Aragi, told the Times that Carson's reaction was Yikes.
Anders Olsson, chair of the academy's Nobel committee for literature, said Carson had broken away from lyrical poetry bound to the narrative self. The Times 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 is for a lifetime of work, not a single new book. The academy did not announce a ceremony date in the press release.
People Sentiments Positive
- Anne Carson told Icelandic broadcaster RUV the judges were crazy for honouring her.
- Her agent Nicole Aragi said Carson's reaction was Yikes.
- Anders Olsson said her method leads to playful work that moves between genres.