The International Visegrad Fund has presented the Visegrad Literary Award for the first time, recognising four outstanding books by authors from the Visegrad Group countries whose work was supported through the Visegrad Literary Residencies programme.
The award was announced during the Fund’s anniversary celebration in Bratislava on 16 June 2026. It builds on the success of the Visegrad Literary Residencies programme, which, since its launch in 2012, has become one of the Fund’s most important tools for fostering literary cooperation and cross-border creative exchange in Central Europe.
The Visegrad Literary Residencies programme was established by the Visegrad Fund and Villa Decius Association, which coordinates the initiative, in cooperation with the Czech Literary Centre, the Slovak Literary Centre, and the Petőfi Literary Museum. Since its launch, this programme has enabled more than 400 writers and translators from Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia to develop their projects, exchange ideas, and build professional networks across the region.
Following an open call that attracted more than 80 submissions, an international jury selected four laureates, one from each Visegrad country. Each winner received support for the translation of their work into another language.
The 2025 laureates are:
- Czechia: Alena Machoninová – Hella
- Hungary: Róbert Milbacher – Keserű víz
- Poland: Paweł Pieniążek – Wojna w moim domu
- Slovakia: Ivana Gibová – Babička©
Created to strengthen the international visibility of Central European literature, the award celebrates the creative achievements of authors and translators while supporting the cross-border circulation of literary works.
