Katara to announce winners of 2026 Arabic Novel Prize on October 15

The Cultural Village Foundation – Katara is set to announce the winners of the 12th Katara Prize for Arabic Novel on Thursday, October 15, 2026, bringing this year’s competition to its highly anticipated conclusion.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Katara Opera House at 7:30 PM, celebrating outstanding works and writers from across the Arab literary world.

The 2026 edition is particularly significant after attracting 2,610 submissions, the highest number recorded since the prize was launched in 2014.

A record year for the Katara Prize

This year’s 2,610 submissions were spread across several categories.

They included:

• 1,488 unpublished novels
• 578 published novels
• 303 unpublished young adult novels
• 123 unpublished historical novels
• 107 unpublished critical studies
• 11 published Qatari novels

The figure surpassed the previous record of 2,321 entries recorded during the competition’s seventh edition in 2021.

54 works reach the final stage

Following the earlier selection rounds, 45 novels and nine critical studies advanced to the final stage of the competition.

The prize covers six categories:

• Published Arabic novels
• Unpublished Arabic novels
• Unpublished young adult novels
• Unpublished historical novels
• Published Qatari novels
• Unpublished critical studies

The winners across these categories will be announced during Thursday evening’s ceremony.

Around $375,000 in prizes

The total prize money for the 12th edition amounts to approximately $375,000.

Published novels, unpublished novels and critical studies account for $90,000 each in total prize allocations, while the remaining awards are divided between young adult novels, Qatari novels and historical novels.

Beyond cash prizes, the Katara initiative also supports Arabic literature through the publication and translation of winning works, helping selected titles reach readers beyond the Arabic-speaking world.

Supporting Arabic literature

Since its establishment, the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel has developed into a wider cultural project encompassing publishing, translation, literary criticism, training and initiatives connecting novels with other art forms.

The 2026 edition also marks the beginning of the prize’s second decade, with new initiatives being introduced to expand its role within the regional literary scene.

The award has attracted approximately 17,110 submissions throughout its history and has honoured 183 winners to date.

Ceremony details

Event: 12th Katara Prize for Arabic Novel Awards Ceremony

Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026

Time: 7:30 PM

Location: Katara Opera House, Cultural Village – Katara

Edition: 12th

Entries received: 2,610

Total prize value: Approximately $375,000

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