The laureate of the Natallia Arsenneva Poetry Prize for 2026 has been announced in Warsaw. It is Ihar Kulikou with his book of poems and translations from Sanskrit and English titled "Not from Here's Distance" (Нетутэйшая далечыня), published by "Janushkevich" in 2025, the Belarusian PEN reported .
Collage: Bellit.info
Ihar Kulikou received the award "for metaphysical courage in working with language and creating a distinct artistic world." The jury noted the author's work in creating his own linguistic existential-poetic cosmos.
This year, the short list of nominees for the prize included three books. Besides the winning book, it comprised collections "Chronicle of Emptiness Denial" by Illya Kulbitsky (Skaryna Press, 2025) and "Tea Collection. Selected Post-Poetry 2007—2025" by Maks Shchur (SayBeat, 2025).
The Natallia Arsenneva Prize is a literary award presented for the best Belarusian poetry book. It was founded in 2016 by the Belarusian PEN Center, the Union of Belarusian Writers, and the Association of Belarusians of the World "Batskaushchyna." Since 2021, the organization of this event has been handled by the Belarusian PEN and the International Union of Belarusian Writers.
Winners of the Natallia Arsenneva Prize from previous years:
- 2017 — Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, "Only Poems";
- 2018 — Ales Razanau, "Re-selected";
- 2019 — Maryia Martysievich, "Sarmatia";
- 2020 — Andrei Khadanovich, "School of Grass";
- 2021 — Alesia Basharymava, "Wolverine";
- 2022 — Darya Byalkevich, "Tears to the Wind";
- 2023 — Nasta Kudasava, "Nearby";
- 2024 — Hanna Shakel, "Body of Almond";
- 2025 — Siarhei Prylutski, "Nothing Terrible".
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