American writer Hanif Abdurraqib has been named the recipient of the 2026 Weston International Award. The prestigious award, totaling $75,000, complements the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, an annual recognition given to a Canadian author for an exceptional work of nonfiction.
The Weston International Award honors the remarkable career achievements of an international author in the field of nonfiction. To be eligible for this award, international authors must have published a minimum of three books of exceptional literary quality in the nonfiction genre, written in English or widely available in translation.
Abdurraqib is a renowned poet, essayist, and cultural critic, celebrated for his insightful writings on music, sports, Black culture, and social justice. His notable works include “There’s Always This Year,” focusing on basketball, race, and American society, which earned him the National Books Critics Circle Award. Additionally, he is the author of “A Little Devil in America,” exploring Black performance and recipient of the Carnegie Medal, and “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us,” a collection of music-infused essays. Notably, his poetry collections comprise “The Crown Ain’t Worth Much” and “A Fortune for Your Disaster.”
Recognized for his literary contributions, Abdurraqib was honored as a MacArthur Fellow in 2021 and received the Windham-Campbell Prize in 2024. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, he has garnered international acclaim for his thought-provoking and impactful writings.
A distinguished panel, consisting of a Canadian jury and an international advisory committee, selected Abdurraqib as the recipient of the Weston International Award. The international advisory committee included PBS arts correspondent Jeffery Brown, British Iranian author and The Guardian’s literary editor David Shariatmadari, and Nigerian author and literary festival director Lola Shoneyin. The Canadian jury comprised author and professor Dean Jobb, nonfiction writer and filmmaker Chase Joynt, author Tess McWatt, author and scholar Christina Sharpe, and author Jenny Heijun Wills.
According to a press statement from the jury, they were captivated by Abdurraqib’s unique ability to weave a narrative of Black life through performance, music, and athleticism, showcasing authenticity and originality in his work. His writings encompass a broad spectrum of topics, from basketball and dance to music and societal issues, emphasizing the voices of the marginalized and challenging prevailing falsehoods.
Abdurraqib is scheduled to deliver a talk at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto on September 14, where he will delve into his career and literary creations. For those interested in attending, tickets can be acquired through the Weston International Award website. The previous year’s recipient of the award was American author Leslie Jamison.
The Writers’ Trust of Canada, a charitable organization established in 1976 by notable figures such as Margaret Atwood and Pierre Berton, aims to promote, support, and honor Canadian writers and literature. Through various initiatives, including national literary awards, financial grants, and programs for emerging writers, the organization plays a vital role in fostering a thriving literary community.