Wasafiri: New Writing Prize 2026

Join Wasafiri, the magazine of international contemporary writing since 1984, as they announce the winners of the 2026 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize. Join Wasafiri, the magazine of international contemporary writing since 1984, as they announce the winners of the 2026 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize. This two-part event opens with a panel discussion on change and activism within the publishing industry, including questions on the impact of AI, freedom of speech, writers’ rights, the current translation boom and plenty more. Chaired by Wasafiri’s Associate Editor, So Mayer, the panel features writer and interdisciplinary artist, Tice Cin; English PEN’s Head of Literature Programmes, Will Forrester; and artist, researcher and producer, Heather Marks. The discussion is followed by readings by writers from the Wasafiri community – Farah Ahamed, Gaël Le Cornec and Cara Thompson – each representing the three strands of the prize: Fiction, Life Writing and Poetry respectively. The evening culminates with the announcement of the 2026 winners and a prize-giving by the judging panel: Ellah Wakatama as chair, with Santanu Bhattacharya, Jen Calleja and Mona Kareem. Copies of a range of Wasafiri issues are available to purchase at the event.