Dublin Literary Award Winner 2026

The Dublin Literary Award winner has been announced. From the 69 titles nominated in November 2025, to the longlist of 20 titles released in February 2026, a the shortlist of six books announced in April, the judges have now determined a winner. 

The winner of the 100,000 Euro prize is Ali Smith for Gliff.

Ali Smith is a multi-award winning Scottish author, best known for her Seasonal Quartet and Women's Prize winning How to Be Both. Her dystopian novel Gliff is a dystopian novel set in a world of high surveillance and environmental degradation. Two siblings flee an authoritarian state, escaping on a stolen horse named Gliff. 

In announcing the winner, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam said:

“Gliff is a remarkable and deeply powerful work from author Ali Smith. Through the eyes of two young protagonists navigating an increasingly authoritarian society, we are reminded that courage is not always loud, but it is always consequential. Their resilience, their humanity, and their refusal to surrender hope speak to something timeless within us all. At a moment when democracy across the world can too often feel fragile, this novel is a powerful reminder that freedom, dignity and democratic values should never be taken for granted.”

Congratulations Ali Smith!