ASF Translation Awards
ASF Translation Awards honor outstanding English translations of 20th- or 21st-century Nordic poetry, fiction, drama, or prose, with four annual prizes recognizing excellence and promoting Nordic literature.
Funder: American-Scandinavian Foundation
Due Dates: September 15, 2026 (annual submission deadline, online by 11:59 pm EDT)
Funding Amounts: $2,000–$5,000 per award; four prizes annually; includes publication excerpt and medallion
Summary: Annual prizes for outstanding English translations of 20th- or 21st-century Nordic poetry, fiction, drama, or prose.
Description
The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) Translation Awards recognize excellence in English translations of poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose originally authored in a Nordic language (Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, or Swedish) by writers born after 1900. Four annual prizes are offered:
- Nadia Christensen Prize: For an exceptional translation from a Nordic language ($5,000 award).
- Leif and Inger Sjöberg Prize: For a first-time translator whose work has not previously been published ($2,000 award).
- Wigeland Prize: For the best translation from Norwegian by a resident of Norway ($2,000 award).
- Inger and Jens Bruun Translation Prize: For the best Danish translation ($2,000 award).
Each prize includes a monetary award, publication of an excerpt in Scandinavian Review, and a commemorative bronze medallion.
