American writer Hanif Abdurraqib has been named the recipient of the 2026 Weston International Award, a prestigious accolade accompanied by a prize of $75,000. This award complements the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, which is presented annually to a Canadian author for a singular nonfiction work. The Weston International Award is bestowed upon an international author in recognition of their significant contributions to the field of nonfiction literature.
To qualify for the Weston International Award, international authors must have published a minimum of three books of exceptional literary quality within the nonfiction genre, written in English or widely available in translation. Abdurraqib, a versatile writer known for his poetry, essays, and cultural critiques, has garnered acclaim for his insightful commentary on music, sports, Black culture, and social justice issues.
Among Abdurraqib’s notable works are “There’s Always This Year,” which delves into themes of basketball, race, and American society and received the National Books Critics Circle Award. His other acclaimed books include “A Little Devil in America,” exploring Black performance and honored with the Carnegie Medal, and “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us,” a collection of music-infused essays. Additionally, his poetry collections “The Crown Ain’t Worth Much” and “A Fortune for Your Disaster” have resonated with readers.
Acknowledged as a MacArthur Fellow in 2021 and a recipient of the Windham-Campbell Prize in 2024, Abdurraqib hails from Columbus, Ohio. His selection as the Weston International Award laureate was made by an esteemed panel comprising PBS arts correspondent Jeffery Brown, British Iranian author and The Guardian’s literary editor David Shariatmadari, and Nigerian author and literary festival director Lola Shoneyin.
This year’s Canadian jury, responsible for the award selection, included author and professor Dean Jobb, nonfiction writer and filmmaker Chase Joynt, author Tess McWatt, scholar Christina Sharpe, and author Jenny Heijun Wills. The jury commended Abdurraqib’s unique ability to amplify the voices and experiences of Black individuals through the universal languages of music, performance, and sports.
Abdurraqib is slated to deliver a talk at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto on September 14, where he will discuss his literary journey and works. Tickets for this event can be obtained through the Weston International Award website. Leslie Jamison, an American author, was the recipient of the award last year.
The Writers’ Trust of Canada, a charitable organization established in 1976 by renowned literary figures such as Margaret Atwood and Pierre Berton, is dedicated to supporting and promoting Canadian writers and literature. The organization offers a range of programs, including 11 national literary awards, financial grants, initiatives for emerging writers, and a writers’ retreat.