Could an Arab writer win the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature? Nine names to know

The Nobel Prize in Literature is to be announced soon, and several Arab writers have strong claims to receive the prestigious honor. Adonis, a Syrian-born poet, is the most frequently mentioned name. His work transformed modern Arabic poetry and helped co-found the influential Shi'r journal. Ibrahim Al Koni, a Libyan Tuareg novelist, has created a vast literary world around the desert, covering themes of myth, spirituality, memory and survival.

Amin Maalouf, a Lebanese author, has written extensively on migration, identity and the meeting of civilisations. His works have earned him a place in French literary life. Hoda Barakat, a Lebanese novelist, explores the impact of war on individuals and relationships in her works, such as The Stone of Laughter and Voices of the Lost.

Tahar Ben Jelloun, a Moroccan writer, has seamlessly blended French and Moroccan literary traditions to address issues of identity, migration and political repression. Leila Aboulela, a Sudanese author, examines faith, migration and belonging in her English-language novels, including The Translator and Minaret. Samar Yazbek, a Syrian writer, has documented the Syrian conflict through various forms, including journalism, memoir and fiction.

Bushra Al Maqtari, a Yemeni novelist and journalist, focuses on the human consequences of political violence in her work, such as What Have You Left Behind? Salim Barakat, a Kurdish-Syrian writer, is known for his innovative use of the Arabic language, creating dense imagery and unusual vocabulary in his works.