Link to the PEN Ukraine publication
As part of the 2026 programme, 23 scholarships of €5,000 each will be awarded.
The programme aims to support the creation of new works by Ukrainian authors that contribute to:
- reflecting on the experience of the war that Ukrainian society has been living through since 2014;
- rethinking Ukrainian culture within European and universal contexts;
- fostering a deeper understanding of Ukrainian culture both in Ukraine and internationally;
- highlighting the diversity of cultures and lived experiences.
The programme supports authors working in the following categories:
- Non-fiction: reportage, biographies, essays, interviews, and other non-fiction writing.
- Fiction: novels, short stories, and poetry.
- Children’s and Young Adult Literature: both fiction and non-fiction.
Programme Timeline
- Until 31 August 2026 (inclusive): Applications open.
- September–October 2026: Jury review.
- 30 October 2026: Announcement of scholarship recipients.
- November–December 2026: Scholarship agreements signed.
- By 30 November 2028: Books must be published.
Jury
Applications will be evaluated by a jury comprising Ukrainian writers, scholars, journalists, and representatives of Norwegian literary organisations:
- Volodymyr Yermolenko — philosopher, writer, journalist, and President of Ukrainian PEN;
- Iryna Slavinska — journalist and Executive Producer of Radio Kultura;
- Petro Yatsenko — writer, journalist, Head of the Press Office of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, and a recipient of the 2024 scholarship programme;
- Iryna Starovoyt — poet, essayist, and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Ukrainian Catholic University;
- Olha Kupriian — writer, literary critic, literary scholar, and coordinator of the BaraBooka children’s reading initiative;
- Marichka Paplauskaite — journalist, writer, co-founder of The Ukrainians Media, and Editor-in-Chief of Reporters magazine;
- Bernard Mohr — writer and member of the Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators Association;
- Olia Shamshur — Project Manager at the Norwegian Helsinki Committee;
- Iryna Shuvalova — poet, translator, researcher, and postdoctoral fellow in Ukrainian Studies at the University of Oslo.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on:
- the originality of the author’s voice and style;
- the social and cultural significance of the proposed project;
- the author’s ability to conduct the necessary research and work with relevant source materials;
- the feasibility of the proposed work plan.
Scholarship Recipients Will Receive
- a €5,000 scholarship;
- selected recipients will also have the opportunity to present their projects in Norway.
Detailed information about the programme, including the eligibility requirements and application guidelines, is available here: [insert link to the programme guidelines].
Programme Coordinator: Alisa Nikiforova, Cultural Projects Manager at Ukrainian PEN
Email: [email protected]
The programme is implemented within the framework of The Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine with the support of the Government of Norway.