American writer Hanif Abdurraqib has been named the recipient of the 2026 Weston International Award, a prestigious accolade that comes with a prize of $75,000. This award complements the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, which is an annual recognition given to a Canadian author for a singular work of nonfiction. The Weston International Award honors the lifetime accomplishments of an international writer in the nonfiction genre. To be eligible for this award, international authors must have published a minimum of three books of exceptional literary quality in English or have their works widely available in translation.
Hanif Abdurraqib, a renowned poet, essayist, and cultural critic, is celebrated for his insightful writings on music, sports, Black culture, and social justice. His notable works include “There’s Always This Year,” a poignant exploration of basketball, race, and American society which garnered the National Books Critics Circle Award, “A Little Devil in America,” a captivating piece on Black performance that received the Carnegie Medal, and “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us,” a collection of music-infused essays. Additionally, Abdurraqib has authored poetry collections such as “The Crown Ain’t Worth Much” and “A Fortune for Your Disaster.”
Having been named a MacArthur Fellow in 2021 and a recipient of the Windham-Campbell Prize in 2024, Hanif Abdurraqib hails from Columbus, Ohio. The selection of Abdurraqib as the Weston International Award winner was made by an international advisory committee and a Canadian jury. The jury lauded Abdurraqib’s unique ability to amplify the voices and experiences of Black individuals through the mediums of performance, music, and sports, showcasing his distinct and authoritative narrative style.
Abdurraqib is scheduled to speak at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto on September 14 to delve into his career and literary contributions. Tickets for this event can be obtained through the Weston International Award website. The previous year’s recipient of the award was American author Leslie Jamison.
The Writers’ Trust of Canada, a charitable institution established in 1976 by literary luminaries including Margaret Atwood and Pierre Berton, is dedicated to promoting and supporting Canadian writers and literature. The organization offers a range of initiatives, including 11 national literary awards, financial grants, programs for emerging writers, and a writers’ retreat.