Canada’s Anne Carson wins 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature

Canadian poet and essayist Anne Carson has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. At 76 years old, Carson was recognized for her "bold and inventive oeuvre" that defies traditional literary boundaries by blending verse, prose, dialogue, and translation in a way that creates new forms of contemporary literature.

Known for her translations of classical Greek literature, Carson's work often incorporates classical themes and influences, as seen in her verse novel "Autobiography of Red" (1998) and performance piece "Norma Jeane Baker of Troy" (2019). Swedish Academy officials announced the news to Carson in Iceland, where the Toronto-born author was "listening to the wind" when she received the notification.

The announcement was made in Stockholm, Sweden, on Thursday. Last year's Literature Prize went to Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai. The Nobel Prize in Literature is the fourth award announced each year, following the Medicine, Physics, and Chemistry Prizes. The Peace Prize will be announced on Friday in Oslo, followed by the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences on Monday.

Each Nobel Prize carries a cash award of 12 million Swedish kronor (approximately US$1.2 million), and the winners will be formally recognized at a ceremony on December 10, which marks the anniversary of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel's death in 1896.