Canadian poet Anne Carson wins 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature
The Swedish Academy awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature to Anne Carson, 76, citing her inventiveness and dialogue with the classical tradition. The Canadian-born poet and essayist was in Iceland when she learned the news.
The prize: The Swedish Academy cited Carson “for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature,” according to the Nobel Prize press release. The award is 12 million Swedish kronor — about £900,000 or $1.2 million, the BBC reported.
Who she is: Carson, 76, is best known for works including Autobiography of Red, The Beauty of the Husband, Eros the Bittersweet, The Glass Essay, Nox and Float, NPR and the BBC reported. She was born in Toronto in 1950, lives in Michigan, and has held Icelandic citizenship since 2022.
Her reaction: She was in Iceland “listening to the wind” when told of the award and joked that the judges were “crazy,” the BBC reported. Anders Olsson of the Academy praised her genre-crossing classical and modern work. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated her, the BBC said.
Recent laureates: Recent literature winners include László Krasznahorkai, Han Kang and Jon Fosse, NPR noted.