EBRD names 2026 literature prize shortlist, including Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has unveiled the 2026 shortlist for its annual literature prize, featuring ten works of fiction in English translation from across its regions of operation, including a prominent Azerbaijani entry by Akram Aylisli.

The shortlisted titles, drawn from nine countries spanning Europe, Asia and the Middle East, reflect themes of conflict, memory and social transformation, according to the bank.

Among them is People and Trees: A Trilogy by Aylisli, translated from Russian by Katherine E. Young and published by Plamen Press.

Aylisli, one of Azerbaijan’s most internationally recognised writers, has long been associated with rural narratives and social realism, with his works translated into multiple languages worldwide.

Other shortlisted works, listed alphabetically by author, include:

• Sololand by Hassan Blasim (Iraq), translated by Jonathan Wright
• In Late Summer by Magdalena Blažević (Croatia), translated by Anđelka Raguž
• Rock, Paper, Grenade by Artem Chekh (Ukraine), translated by Olena Jennings and Oksana Rosenblum
• Ice by Jacek Dukaj (Poland), translated by Ursula Phillips
• Additional titles from across the EBRD’s regions, completing a ten-book shortlist

The EBRD Literature Prize, established in 2017, aims to promote fiction from countries where the bank invests, with a particular emphasis on translation as a bridge between cultures.

An independent jury will narrow the shortlist to three finalists before announcing the winner at a ceremony in London on July 2. The €20,000 prize is split equally between the author and translator.

The inclusion of Aylisli marks a notable moment for Azerbaijani literature on the international stage, as the shortlist highlights an increasingly diverse geographic and linguistic spread of contemporary fiction.