The Nordic Council Literature Prize is awarded for a work of literature written in one of the languages of the Nordic countries, that meets "high literary and artistic standards". Established in 1962, the prize is awarded every year, and is worth 350,000 Danish kroner (2008). Eligible works are typically novels, plays, collections of poetry, short stories or essays, or other works that were published for the first time during the last four years, or in the case of works written in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish, within the last two years. The prize is one of the most prestigious awards that Nordic authors can win.

The winner is chosen by an adjudication committee appointed by the Nordic Council. The committee consists of ten members, two each from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The committee members are generally experts in their own country's literature, as well as their neighbouring countries. In addition to the regular members, additional members may be added to the committee if works are nominated from Åland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland or the Sami language area. Apart from the monetary award, the intent of the prize is also to "increase interest in the literature of neighbouring countries as well in Nordic cultural fellowship".

Committee members as of 2025 As of 2025 the jury consists of the following proper elected members Stig Hansén (Sweden) Pia Ingström (Finland) Jón Yngvi Jóhannsson (Iceland) Outi Menna (Finland) Kathrine Nedrejord (Norway) Karin Nykvist (Sweden) Gro Frank Rasmussen (Denmark) Erik Skyum-Nielsen (Denmark) Soffía Auður Birgisdóttir (Iceland) Bjørn Sortland (Norway)

Additionally the jury includes deputy members, appointed members and ex officio members.

List of winners

The following is a complete list of recipients of the Nordic Council Literature Prize:

Year English title Original title Author Country Original Language Ref 1962 The Days of His Grace Hans nådes tid Sweden Swedish 1963 Under the North Star 3: Reconciliation Täällä Pohjantähden alla 3 Finland Finnish 1964 The Ice Palace Is-slottet Norway Norwegian 1965 From Hell to Paradise Från Helvetet till Paradiset Sweden Swedish The Good Hope Det gode Håb Faroe Islands Danish 1966 Diwan on the Prince of Emgion Dīwān över Fursten av Emgión Sweden Swedish 1967 Nye noveller Nye noveller Norway Norwegian 1968 Flight of the Eagle Ingenjör Andrées luftfärd Sweden Swedish 1969 The Legionnaires Legionärerna Sweden Swedish 1970 Anna, I, Anna Anna, jeg, Anna Denmark Danish 1971 Coast of Slaves, Ships of Slaves and Islands of Slaves Slavernes kyst, Slavernes skibe and Slavernes øer Denmark Danish 1972 Sju ord på tunnelbanan Sju ord på tunnelbanan Sweden Swedish 1973 Kersantin poika Kersantin poika Finland Finnish 1974 Uden mål – og med Uden mål – og med Denmark Danish 1975 Siinä näkijä missä tekijä Siinä näkijä missä tekijä Finland Finnish 1976 Að laufferjum and Að brunnum Að laufferjum and Að brunnum Iceland Icelandic 1977 I de mörka rummen, i de ljusa I de mörka rummen, i de ljusa Finland Swedish 1978 Dalen Portland Dalen Portland Norway Norwegian 1979 Pubertet Pubertet Sweden Swedish 1980 Vredens barn Vredens barn Sweden Swedish 1981 Hauströkkrið yfir mér Hauströkkrið yfir mér Iceland Icelandic 1982 Samuels bok Samuels bok Sweden Swedish 1983 Om fjorten dage Om fjorten dage Denmark Danish 1984 The Christmas Oratorio Juloratoriet Sweden Swedish 1985 A Day in Ostrobothnia Pohjanmaa Finland Finnish 1986 Líkasum Líkasum Faroe Islands Faroese 1987 Hudløs himmel Hudløs himmel Norway Norwegian 1988 Justice Undone Grámosinn glóir Iceland Icelandic 1989 Roman 1987 Roman 1987 Norway Norwegian 1990 For the Living and the Dead För levande och döda Sweden Swedish 1991 The Sun, My Father Beaivi, áhčážan Sápmi / Finland Northern Sámi 1992 Night Watch Meðan nóttin líður Iceland Icelandic 1993 Byen og verden Byen og verden Denmark Danish 1994 Blackwater Händelser vid vatten Sweden Swedish 1995 Angels of the Universe Englar alheimsins Iceland Icelandic 1996 Hva skal vi gjøre i dag og andre noveller Hva skal vi gjøre i dag og andre noveller Norway Norwegian 1997 Bang. En roman om Herman Bang Bang. En roman om Herman Bang Denmark Danish 1998 After Having Spent a Night Among Horses Efter att ha tillbringat en natt bland hästar Finland Swedish 1999 Queen's Gate Dronningeporten Denmark Danish 2000 Drømmebroer Drømmebroer Denmark Danish 2001 The Discoverer Oppdageren Norway Norwegian 2002 The Half Brother Halvbroren Norway Norwegian 2003 Revbensstäderna Revbensstäderna Sweden Swedish 2004 Juoksuhaudantie Juoksuhaudantie Finland Finnish 2005 The Blue Fox Skugga-Baldur Iceland Icelandic 2006 The Ocean Oceanen Sweden Swedish 2007 Drömfakulteten Drömfakulteten Sweden Swedish 2008 Baboon Bavian Denmark Danish 2009 I Curse the River of Time Jeg forbanner tidens elv Norway Norwegian 2010 Purge Puhdistus Finland Finnish 2011 Between the Trees Milli trjánna Iceland Icelandic 2012 Days in the History of Silence Dager i stillhetens historie Norway Norwegian 2013 The Prophets of Eternal Fjord Profeterne fra Evighedsfjorden Denmark Danish 2014 Mirage 38 Hägring 38 Finland Swedish 2015 Andvake, Olavs draumar and Kveldsvævd Andvake, Olavs draumar and Kveldsvævd Jon Fosse Norway Norwegian 2016 Songs and Formulae Sånger och formler Katarina Frostenson Sweden Swedish 2017 Memories of Love Erindring om kærligheden Denmark Danish 2018 Hotel Silence Ör Iceland Icelandic 2019 After the Sun Efter Solen Denmark Danish 2020 Who killed Bambi? Vem dödade bambi? Finland Swedish 2021 Flower Valley Naasuliardarpi Greenland Greenlandic 2022 On the Calculation of Volume I, II and III Om udregning af rumfang I, II and III Denmark Danish 2023 Remember Us to Life Ihågkom oss till liv Sweden Swedish 2024Walking ManFars ryggNiels Fredrik DahlNorway Norwegian2025Black OrchidSvørt orkidéVónbjørt VangFaroe Islands Faroese

References

External links

Official website