The National Book Prize Awards 18 Winning Titles During Ceremony at San Anton Palace

The winners of the 2026 National Book Prize – for books published in 2025 – were announced earlier this evening during a ceremony held at the San Anton Palace under the patronage of Her Excellency the President of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono. The National Book Prize is presented annually by the National Book Council (NBC), with winning titles selected by an independent board of adjudicators following a rigorous evaluation process.

Adjudicators hailed this year’s winning works for their efforts in expanding the range of the Maltese literary canon; through works of both rigour and vulnerability that boldly introduce previously under-explored themes and ideas. Some works jolt the reader out of their comfort zone, others endeavour to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Many offer fresh perspectives for readers to enjoy and contemplate, while boasting high aesthetic standards and true intellectual depth.  

The winning books were chosen from a shortlist of 47 finalists, drawn from an initial pool of 163 eligible titles: 103 titles spread across the eight categories of the National Book Prize, and 60 titles spanning the National Book Prize for Children and Young Adults. As it has done for the past two years, the NBC is once again awarding an additional €1,000 to the publishing house of each winning book. 

The titles were published by 14 publishers and four self-published authors, and authored by 49 different authors, translators, editors and illustrators. Seven different illustrators contributed with their illustrations in books shortlisted in the Children and Young Adults categories.

The eight categories of the National Book Prize for adults are Novels, Short Stories, Poetry, Drama, Non-Fiction, Prose Fiction in Translation, Research, and Historiographic Research. The categories of the Children and Young Adults Prize include Picture Books for children (ages 0–7), Children’s Literature (ages 8–12), Young Adult Literature, Picture Books in Translation (ages 0-7) and Children’s Literature in Translation (ages 8-12). No works were submitted towards the remaining categories of Young Adult Literature in Translation and the newly-introduced Sport Literature for Children and Young Adults (ages 8-16), which was made possible in collaboration with Sport Malta. 

Further to the above, this year the NBC also gave out notable Special Prizes: among them the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Illustration Recognition Prize and an unprecedented three prizes for Best Book Production – spotlighting exceptional editorial, publishing and design work in literature, research and writing for children and young adults.

Apart from the visibility bestowed upon them by the Prize and its ensuing campaign – on both traditional and social media platforms – the NBC has this year invested in additional promotion for the winners at the Malta Book Festival, where they will be prominently promoted by means of eye-catching venue artwork.  

During her speech, Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta, underlined the important role that the National Book Council plays in promoting the Maltese language and in further reminding us of our responsibility towards safeguarding this crucial element of our national identity. While paying tribute to the creativity, rigorous research and intellect of Maltese writers, the President encouraged all relevant stakeholders – including authors, publishers, translators and illustrators, as well as the Council itself – to continue working in unison to ensure that the language preserves its richness and character even as it continues to evolve.

The Minister for Arts, Culture and National Heritage Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, said that the National Book Prize celebrates the quality and diversity of Malta’s literary sector, while highlighting the contribution of authors, publishers, illustrators and translators. He noted that this year’s ceremony also marked the National Book Council’s first event as an entity within the Ministry for Culture, and paid tribute to the late Ġorġ Mallia and his contribution to the sector. The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting books, literature and the Maltese language, and to promoting Maltese literary works and encouraging greater public engagement with reading.

In his address, NBC Executive Chairperson Mark Camilleri said that he was honoured to once again usher in this annual celebration of the finest Maltese works to come out in a given year, in the presence of a varied gathering of stakeholders who continue to enrich the local book sector. Camilleri highlighted that a total of 18 prizes would be given out by the end of the night – a testament to how representative the prize continues to be of an equally dynamic and evolving literary scene. He also spoke about the way forward for the Council’s enduring support initiatives, chief of which included the recently launched Subsidy for Printed Books, as well as ongoing efforts to facilitate internationalisation of Maltese literature – a logical and fruitful step for a country of Malta’s size. 

The National Book Council would like to thank the members of the adjudication board of the 2026 National Book Prize Alex Vella Gregory, Audrey Friggieri, Francesca Grech, Jessica Muscat, Joseph Gravina, Lara Calleja, Mario Cardona, Moira Scicluna Zahra, Roberta Bajada, Valerie Visanich.

Special thanks go to Margaret Callus from Malta Libraries for the classification of the submitted books in their respective category.

NATIONAL BOOK PRIZE 2026

NOVELS IN MALTESE AND ENGLISH

Eħlisna mid-deni by Karl Schembri (Merlin Publishers)

SHORT STORIES IN MALTESE AND ENGLISH

Is-sajf mhux għat-tfal by Lon Kirkop (Merlin Publishers)

POETRY IN MALTESE AND ENGLISH

dahri darek by Klara Vassallo (Self-Published)

DRAMA

Il-Każin tal-Imqarbin by Luke Saydon (Saydon Studio)

PROSE FICTON IN TRANSLATION

Isem il-Warda (Umberto Eco) by Adrian Stivala (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

LITERARY NON-FICTION IN MALTESE AND ENGLISH

Qarn by Romeo Roxman Gatt (Aphroconfuso)

RESEARCH

The Malta Royal Opera House Power, Culture, and the Stage by Vicki Ann Cremona

HISTORIOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

A Mediterranean History of Modern Art Volume 1: Tension between History and Metahistory by Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci (author); Nikki Petroni (editor) (Horizons)

BEST BOOK PRODUCTION

1. be;n il-kmiem, published by Merlin Publishers, written by Leanne Ellul

2. dahri darek, designed by Kotba Calleja, written by Klara Vassallo

3. Wrinkles, published by Midsea Books, written by Paul Caruana

SPORT LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS (AGES 8-16)

No submissions

ILLUSTRATOR RECOGNITION PRIZE

Mark Scicluna

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Joe Friggieri

NATIONAL BOOK PRIZE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS

PICTURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN (AGES 0–7)

Tales from San Anton Gardens: The Garden and I by Francesca Tabone (Faraxa Publishing)

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE (AGES 8–12)

Kaħlani: Skoss pożi u karamboli by Clare Azzopardi & Leanne Ellul (Merlin Publishers)

YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE

Ta’ Taħt Fuq: Il-Missjoni tal-Mostru by Matthew Schembri (Merlin Publishers)

PICTURE BOOKS IN TRANSLATION (AGES 0–7)

Lupu Lupettu jħobb id-dinosawri by Matthew Schembri (Merlin Publishers)

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION (AGES 8–12)

Malvarina: Irrid insir saħħara by Clare Azzopardi (Merlin Publishers)

YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION

No submissions