A new biennial prize dedicated to poetry in translation is set to open submissions in July, reflecting the growing momentum around international literature in English. Jointly launched by Fitzcarraldo Editions (UK), Giramondo Publishing (Australia), and New Directions (US), the Poetry in Translation Prize will award a $5,000 advance — split equally between poet and translator — for an unpublished poetry collection originally written in a language other than English.

The winning collection will be published across multiple regions: by Fitzcarraldo in the UK and Ireland, by Giramondo in Australia and New Zealand, and by New Directions in North America. The initiative aims to spotlight formally ambitious and distinctive poetic voices while emphasizing the central role of translators in making global literature accessible.

A Push for Translated Poetry

According to Fitzcarraldo poetry editor Rachael Allen, the prize was designed to create more space for poetry in translation, a field often overshadowed by fiction. “There is no other prize like this that we know,” she said. Co-editor Joely Day noted that the success of translated fiction in the English-speaking world has laid the groundwork for increased interest in translated poetry.

The prize is open to living poets from any country writing in languages other than English. Submissions will be accepted from July 15 to August 15, 2025, with the winner announced in January 2026. Publication of the selected collection is expected in 2027.

Elevating the Role of the Translator

For language professionals, the prize offers both recognition and opportunity. It highlights the role of translators not as intermediaries, but as co-authors in the creative process. “My personal hope is that the prize reaches fledgling or aspiring translators,” Day added, “and encourages those who want to work with poetry to do so.”

The initiative reflects a broader effort to bring underrepresented literary voices—and the translators who carry them — into the spotlight.