American writer Hanif Abdurraqib has been honored with the 2026 Weston International Award, a prestigious accolade accompanied by a prize of $75,000. This award serves as a companion to the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, which recognizes a Canadian author annually for a singular work of nonfiction.
The Weston International Award celebrates the career accomplishments of an international author in the nonfiction genre. To be eligible, international authors must have published a minimum of three books of exceptional literary quality in English or widely available translations. Abdurraqib, a poet, essayist, and cultural critic renowned for his insightful commentary on music, sports, Black culture, and social justice, was selected as the recipient.
Among his notable works are “There’s Always This Year,” which delves into basketball, race, and American society and received the National Books Critics Circle Award. Additionally, his publications include “A Little Devil in America,” exploring Black performance and recipient of the Carnegie Medal, and “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us,” a collection of music-infused essays. Abdurraqib is also the author of poetry collections such as “The Crown Ain’t Worth Much” and “A Fortune for Your Disaster.”
Having been named a MacArthur Fellow in 2021 and a recipient of the Windham-Campbell Prize in 2024, Abdurraqib hails from Columbus, Ohio. The selection of Abdurraqib as the Weston International Award winner was made by an international advisory committee and a Canadian jury consisting of distinguished literary figures.
The jury praised Abdurraqib for his ability to capture the essence of Black life across various domains such as performance, music, and sports, emphasizing his unique and authoritative voice. Abdurraqib’s work sheds light on societal issues such as policing, violence, and inequality while championing marginalized voices and affirming resilience and resistance.
Abdurraqib is scheduled to deliver a talk at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto on September 14, where he will discuss his career and literary contributions. Tickets for the event can be obtained through the Weston International Award website. The previous recipient of the award was American author Leslie Jamison.
The Writers’ Trust of Canada, a charitable organization established in 1976 by prominent literary figures including Margaret Atwood and Pierre Berton, aims to support and celebrate Canadian writers through various initiatives, including literary awards, grants, and career development programs.