REYKJAVÍK, Iceland, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Polish Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk has been named recipient of the 2026 Halldór Laxness International Literary Prize, Iceland’s most prestigious international literary honor. Logi Einarsson, Iceland’s Minister of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, presented Tokarczuk with the award during a public ceremony at The Nordic House in Reykjavík on September 10.
The biennial prize was established to continue the legacy of Halldór Laxness, Iceland’s 1955 Nobel Laureate in Literature. The Halldór Laxness International Literary Prize is awarded to recognize an international author for their contributions to the renewal of narrative art, echoing the same criterion cited when Laxness was awarded the Nobel Prize. Since its inception, the prize has honored some of the world’s most illustrious writers, including Ian McEwan (2019), Elif Shafak (2021), Andrey Kurkov (2022), and Salman Rushdie (2024).
The 2026 selection committee included 2024 honoree Salman Rushdie, journalist Egill Helgason, and Reykjavík International Literary Festival Chair Stella Soffía Jóhannesdóttir.
“Olga Tokarczuk is, quite simply, one of the world’s greatest living writers,” noted Rushdie on behalf of the selection committee, in comments shared during the ceremony by Minister Logi Einarsson. “In her work, we find tragedy, comedy, history, and irony uniting in a completely delightful literary cocktail. I’m very pleased that she has accepted the Laxness prize. Her acceptance is a prize for us all.”
The Halldór Laxness International Literary Prize is presented jointly by the Reykjavík International Literary Festival, the Icelandic Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, Business Iceland (Íslandsstofa), Gljúfrasteinn – Laxness Museum, and Forlagið, the Icelandic publisher of Halldór Laxness. The Nordic House, Reykjavík’s premier venue for Nordic art, culture, and public discussion, is an official partner of the 2026 prize.
Additional photos from the award ceremony are available here.
About the Reykjavik International Literary Festival
The Reykjavík International Literary Festival is the premier literary event in Reykjavík, attracting readers and authors from around the world since its inception in 1985. At its heart, the festival celebrates the love of reading — a shared space where audiences can enjoy good books, listen to authors, and talk about the books they love. Alongside this, the festival focuses on issues of freedom of expression and human rights, dedicating specific events to these important topics.
About Business Iceland
Business Iceland is the Icelandic government’s agency for promoting trade, tourism, investment, and creative industries. It works to strengthen Iceland’s international standing and foster economic and cultural partnerships globally.
Media Inquiries:
Fanney Benjamínsdóttir I fanney@bokmenntahatid.is
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SOURCE Business Iceland
