The prestigious Arkane World Poetry Prize for 2026 has been awarded to Palestinian poetry, represented by esteemed poets Ghassan Zaqtan, Yusuf Abdul Aziz, Tahar Riyad, and Zuhair Abu Shaib. This marks a historic moment for the award, as it is the first time that the honor has been conferred upon a collective body of poetry rather than an individual poet.
The jury for the award, organized by the House of Poetry in Morocco in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, consisted of Moroccan poet Wafa Al-Imrani as the president, alongside academic Abdul Rahman Tankoul, visual artist Ahmed Jarid, academic Jamal Al-Din Benhiyoun, poet and translator Nour Al-Din Al-Zouitni, and poet Hassan Najmi, the secretary-general of the award.
In their announcement, the jury stated that the recognition of Palestinian poetry celebrates its literary achievements characterized by a diversity of voices and varying experiences. They emphasized the open horizons of this poetic expression, which allows language to be realized with a consciousness that steadfastly maintains its poetic lineage.
Furthermore, they noted that "writing poetry from within the depths of pain has rendered the act of writing in Palestinian poetry a challenging endeavor, testing the essence of writing as it seeks to affirm its foundational ties to poetry."
Previously, in its third edition in 2008, the Arkane World Poetry Prize honored the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.
The awarded poets will receive the monetary value of the prize at an official ceremony on April 25, at the Mohammed VI Museum of Contemporary Art, as part of the celebrations designating Rabat as the World Book Capital for 2026.
Ghassan Zaqtan is recognized as one of the most prominent contemporary voices in Palestine and the Arab world. Born in Beit Jala in 1954, he is both a poet and a novelist, with notable works including "The Heroism of Things," "Not for Me," "The Biography of Coal," "Like a Straw Bird Following Me," and "Strangers in Light Coats."
His fellow poets have also published several collections. Yusuf Abdul Aziz's works include "The Anthem of Stone," "A Homeland in the Camp," "Notebooks of Cloud," "The Rose Mask," and "The Wolf of Forty."
Tahar Riyad's published works consist of "The Desire of the Wind," "The Time's Al-Hallaj," "Mirage of the Springs," "The Book of the Unseen," and "The Forbidden Cup."
Zuhair Abu Shaib has released titles such as "The Geography of Wind and Questions," "The Notebook of States and Stations," "The Shadow of Night," "Secret Rain," and "The History of Thirst."
As reported by asharq.com.
