American author Hanif Abdurraqib has been awarded the 2026 Weston International Award, a prestigious accolade that comes with a prize of $75,000. This award is a complement to the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, which is given annually to a Canadian writer for a single work of nonfiction. The Weston International Award specifically recognizes the career accomplishments of an international author in the field of nonfiction. To be eligible for this award, international authors must have published at least three books of exceptional literary quality in the nonfiction genre, either in English or widely available in translation.
Hanif Abdurraqib, a poet, essayist, and cultural critic, is renowned for his insightful writings on music, sports, Black culture, and social justice. Among his notable works are “There’s Always This Year,” focusing on basketball, race relations, and American society, which received the National Books Critics Circle Award. He also penned “A Little Devil in America,” delving into Black performance art, which earned him the Carnegie Medal, and “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us,” a collection of music-infused essays. Additionally, Abdurraqib has released poetry collections titled “The Crown Ain’t Worth Much” and “A Fortune for Your Disaster.”
In recognition of his literary prowess, Abdurraqib was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2021 and a recipient of the Windham-Campbell Prize in 2024. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Abdurraqib was chosen as the winner of the Weston International Award by an international advisory committee and a Canadian jury. The international advisory committee comprised PBS arts correspondent Jeffery Brown, British Iranian author and literary editor of The Guardian David Shariatmadari, and Nigerian author, literary festival director, and publisher Lola Shoneyin. The Canadian jury included author and professor Dean Jobb, nonfiction writer and filmmaker Chase Joynt, author Tess McWatt, author and scholar Christina Sharpe, and author Jenny Heijun Wills.
The jury praised Abdurraqib’s unique ability to amplify the voices and experiences of Black communities through the mediums of performance, music, and sports, showcasing his distinctive authorial voice. They commended his commitment to challenging narratives, amplifying marginalized perspectives, and asserting the resilience of marginalized groups. Abdurraqib’s works seamlessly blend profound insights into Black identity and social disparities in the United States with themes of love, belonging, life, and mortality.
Abdurraqib is scheduled to deliver a talk at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto on Sept. 14 to reflect on his literary journey and works. Those interested in attending can secure tickets through the Weston International Award website. Last year’s recipient of the award was American author Leslie Jamison.
The Writers’ Trust of Canada, a charitable organization established in 1976 by literary luminaries such as Margaret Atwood and Pierre Berton, aims to support, promote, and honor Canadian writers and their contributions to literature. The organization offers various programs, including 11 national literary awards, financial grants, career development opportunities for emerging writers, and a writers’ retreat.
