Prague Award Ceremony: Retrospective and Aftermovie
Celebrating European Literature in Prague
One month ago, the European Union Prize for Literature gathered authors and literary professionals from across Europe in the beautiful city of Prague.
As always, our goal was to showcase the diversity of European literature and shine a spotlight on new European literary voices.
Introducing the Shortlisted Books
On 15 May, we welcomed our seven-member international jury and the representatives of our national nominating organisations. Throughout the day, national partners pitched the 13 shortlisted books. This gave the jury a deeper insight into each story and author’s cultural background.
On the morning of 16 May, we hosted a workshop for publishers and nominating organisations. Both consortium partners, FEP and EIBF, explained how the EUPL helps authors reach new audiences. They also shared how publishers and agents can work with us to increase this impact. Our International Project Manager for Publishers and Agents, Aurélie Bontout-Roche, shared insights into how she supports EUPL authors abroad and offered practical tips for turning the Prize into real opportunities for translation and rights sales. We were also glad to welcome our colleagues from the European Commission. They gave an overview of the Creative Europe programme and the support it offers for cultural projects like ours.
The Highlight: EUPL Award Ceremony
Of course, the highlight of our time in Prague was the EUPL Award Ceremony itself. The ceremony took place on the evening of 16 May in the beautiful Bohemian Pavilion with all 13 shortlisted authors there to celebrate. European Commissioner Glenn Micallef opened the ceremony by underlining how the Prize helps champion Europe’s diverse languages and cultures. Czech journalist and musician Petr Vizina welcomed all 13 shortlisted authors to the stage where all of them read in their native language.
Their stories stood out for their literary strength and their potential to resonate with readers across borders. After the awards, everyone gathered for a lively reception and dinner. The dinner was a chance for our communities to connect, and talk about the books and European literature that brought us all together.
Before wrapping up, on 17 May, we hosted a final workshop just for the shortlisted authors. We talked about how the Prize can support their careers well beyond the ceremony, with a focus on visibility, translations, and staying connected as part of the EUPL network.
Our days in Prague reminded us why this Prize matters. The Prize celebrates authors, amplifies their stories, and brings them to readers in every corner of Europe and beyond. We are proud to play a part in this journey and can’t wait to see where these books travel next.
Relive the Moments
You can relive these moments with us, the official aftermovie of the 2025 EUPL Ceremony in Prague is out now! Watch it and feel the energy, the stories, and the joy all over again.
Congratulations once again to our laureate, Nicoletta Verna, our special mentions, Sheila Armstrong and Philippe Marczewski.