American writer Hanif Abdurraqib has been honored with the 2026 Weston International Award, which comes with a prize of $75,000. The award is an accompaniment to the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, an annual recognition given to a Canadian writer for a single nonfiction work.
The Weston International Award acknowledges the lifetime accomplishments of an international writer in the field of nonfiction. To be eligible, international writers must have produced a minimum of three books of exceptional literary quality in the nonfiction genre, written in English or widely available in translation.
Abdurraqib, a poet, essayist, and cultural critic recognized for his insightful commentary on music, sports, Black culture, and social justice, has authored several acclaimed books. These include “There’s Always This Year,” which delves into basketball, race, and American society and received the National Books Critics Circle Award. His other works such as “A Little Devil in America” and “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us” have also garnered praise.
Additionally, Abdurraqib has published poetry collections like “The Crown Ain’t Worth Much” and “A Fortune for Your Disaster.” Notably, he was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2021 and a recipient of the Windham-Campbell Prize in 2024, hailing from Columbus, Ohio.
The selection of Abdurraqib as the Weston International Award winner was made by an international advisory committee and a Canadian jury, comprising distinguished figures in the literary world. The jury commended Abdurraqib for his ability to capture the essence of Black life across various art forms, emphasizing his unique voice and perspective.
Abdurraqib is scheduled to deliver a presentation at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto on September 14, where he will discuss his career and creative endeavors. Tickets for the event can be obtained 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 prominent literary figures, including Margaret Atwood, aims to support and promote Canadian writers and their works through various initiatives, including national literary awards, grants, and writer development programs.
