Katara Launches 12th Edition of the Arabic Novel Prize for 2026

The Katara Cultural Village Foundation has officially opened submissions for the 12th edition of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel 2026. The nomination period begins in early November and will remain open until January 31, 2026.

This prestigious award continues to celebrate excellence in Arabic storytelling through several main categories, including published and unpublished novels, research and critical studies, unpublished young adult novels, unpublished historical novels, and published Qatari novels.

Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara, expressed his pride in the remarkable success of the 11th edition, describing it as an outstanding season that introduced a wide range of innovative projects and cultural initiatives.

Among the most notable developments were the launch of the Katara International Prize, which welcomes novels written in English, French, and Spanish, as well as an ambitious project to adapt unpublished and historical novels into films using artificial intelligence. The edition also saw the introduction of the Katara Youth Novel Competition, aimed at university students across the Arab world, alongside the initiative “The Novel Brings Us Together,” which pairs Qatari novelists with fellow writers from other Arab countries.

Meanwhile, Khalid Abdelrahim Al Sayed, General Supervisor of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel, emphasized that honoring a guest country of honor has become a defining tradition of the Katara Arabic Novel Festival. This initiative seeks to highlight the literary journey of the selected country through specialized seminars and exhibitions that explore the development of the novel and its major milestones.

Al Sayed also noted that choosing Saudi Arabia as the guest of honor for the 11th edition played a significant role in shedding light on the origins and evolution of Saudi novels. Special recognition was given to the late novelist and diplomat Ghazi Abdul Rahman Al Gosaibi, who was honored as the Character of the Year for his lasting impact on Arabic literature.

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