Winners from the last round of PEN Presents X SALT
By Erin L. Cox, Publisher | @erinlcox
Translation is an incredibly important part of the global publishing industry. Two opportunities – a grant and an award – are currently open for submissions.
PEN Presents x SALTPEN Presents is a grant program created by English PEN that seeks to expand the landscape of translated literature by supporting sample translations, funding the unpaid work of creating samples, and giving publishers in the UK access to titles from underrepresented languages and regions.
This year’s PEN Presents is a partnership between English PEN and the South Asian Literature in Translation project (SALT). The deadline for submissions for the next session of PEN x Salt are closing May 31, 2026.
The grant is open to translators anywhere in the world in any stage of their career who have written in any official or unofficial languages of South Asia; whose authors are citizens of a South Asian country; resident in South Asia or of south Asian heritage; and for work of any form, genre, style and era. The work must also not have an English translation published in any territory.
A shortlist of 24 applicants will receive grants of £500 to create 5,000-word sample translations of their proposed works, with a final selection of 12 samples.
In April, the last round of winners was announced.
“These projects brought together an expert panel and gave them the delightful challenge of selecting winners from numerous brilliant projects across a range of languages, many of which are hugely underrepresented in English translation,” said Preti Taneja, English PEN Translation Advisory co-chair.
“The writing we present here has great potential to open readers’ minds to the richness of South Asian storytelling, poetry and nonfiction. This is politically urgent, humanely thought-provoking, lyrical, and even profoundly humorous work. Agents and editors now have the wonderful task of taking these samples forward to full publication, and I could not be more excited to see what comes next for these works, their authors and their translators.”
For more information on the program or submission guidelines, visit the website here
Earlier this year, one of the most prestigious literary awards in the Arab world celebrated its 20th anniversary.
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award, which is organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) under the auspices of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), looks to further Arabic literature and culture around the world.
Since its founding, the award has received more than 33,000 submissions and honored 144 laureates. The Translation Grant, which was founded in 2018, has also supported the translation of over 48 titles into 12 languages.
The 21st submission cycle marks a defining milestone as the Sheikh Zayed Book Award enters its third decade and continues to play a pivotal role in advancing the global reception of Arab culture.
The Award includes ten categories, five of which are open to non-Arabic books – Arabic Culture in Other Languages; Translation; Publishing and Technology; Manuscripts, Encyclopedia, and the Lexicon; and the Cultural Personality of the Year.
“Marking twenty years of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award is not only a moment to reflect on its legacy, but also an opportunity to look ahead to its next chapter. As the Award enters its third decade, we invite authors, scholars, translators and publishers from around the world to contribute to a renewed era of literary and intellectual excellence,” said His Excellency Dr Ali Bin Tamim, Secretary-General of the SZBA and Chairman of the ALC.
“Through its international reach, the Award continues to serve as a global platform for distinguished voices across generations, strengthening the presence of Arabic literature and culture on the world stage.”
Authors, translators, and publishers who would like to submit their work for the categories have until the final deadline of September 1st to submit their work. For more information on the submission guidelines, click here. To read about the impact of the award from past winners, click here.