American author Hanif Abdurraqib has been honored with the 2026 Weston International Award, a prestigious accolade accompanied by a $75,000 prize. This award complements the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, which recognizes a Canadian writer annually for a single outstanding work of nonfiction.
The Weston International Award acknowledges the significant contributions of an international author’s body of nonfiction work. Eligible authors from around the globe must have published a minimum of three books of exceptional literary quality in the nonfiction genre, either in English or widely available in translation.
Hanif Abdurraqib, a versatile poet, essayist, and cultural commentator, is renowned for his insightful writings on music, sports, Black culture, and social justice. His notable works include “There’s Always This Year,” which delves into basketball, race, and American society and earned him the National Books Critics Circle Award. Additionally, his book “A Little Devil in America” explores Black performance and received the prestigious Carnegie Medal, while “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us” is a collection of music-infused essays. Abdurraqib has also penned poetry collections such as “The Crown Ain’t Worth Much” and “A Fortune for Your Disaster.”
Notably, Abdurraqib was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2021 and a recipient of the Windham-Campbell Prize in 2024. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, he was selected as the Weston International Award winner by a distinguished panel comprising PBS arts correspondent Jeffery Brown, British Iranian author and The Guardian’s literary editor David Shariatmadari, and Nigerian author and publisher Lola Shoneyin.
The jury praised Abdurraqib’s unique ability to capture the essence of Black life through the mediums of music, performance, and sports. They commended his unwavering commitment to amplifying marginalized voices and challenging societal norms in his thought-provoking works. Abdurraqib will share insights into his career and creative process during a discussion at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto on Sept. 14.
The Writers’ Trust of Canada, founded in 1976 by notable literary figures, including Margaret Atwood and Pierre Berton, is dedicated to supporting and celebrating Canadian writers through various initiatives, including literary awards, grants, and career development programs.