Book Awards in Slovenia
VERONIKA AWARD
The Veronika Award is an award for the best poetry collection published in the previous year given since 1997 by the Municipality of Celje. It is named after Veronika of Desenice, wife of Count Frederick II of Celje. The award ceremony takes place in Celje during a series of events called "Veronika's Evenings", where the Golden Coin of Poetry is also presented.
Year
|
Recipient
|
Title
|
Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2022
|
Kristina Kočan
|
Selišča [Settlements]
|
Litera
|
2021 | Tina Kozin
|
Nebo pod vodo [The Sky Underwater] | Litera
|
2020 | Borut Gombač
|
S konico konice jezika [With the Tip of the Tip of the Tongue]
|
Književno društvo Hiša Poezije
|
2019 | Alenka Jovanovski
|
Tisoč osemdeset stopinj [Thousand Eighty Degrees] | Center za slovensko književnost
|
2018 | Tone Škrjanec
|
Dihaj [Breathe]
|
Center za slovensko književnost
|
JENKO AWARD
The Jenko Award is a literary award, awarded each year for the best poetry collection in Slovene published in the previous two years. It has been bestowed since 1986 by the Slovene Writers' Association (Društvo slovenskih pisateljev, DSP). It is named after the 19th-century Slovene poet Simon Jenko (1835–1869) and is one of the most prestigious literary prizes in Slovenia.
Year
|
Recipient
|
Title | Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Nataša Velikonja
|
Prostor sred križišč [A Place at the Crossroads] | ŠKUC
|
2021 | Nina Dragičević
|
To telo, pokončno [This Body, Standing]
|
ŠKUC
|
2020 | Brane Mozetič
|
Sanje v drugem jeziku [Dreams in Another Language]
|
ŠKUC
|
2019 | Kaja Teržan
|
Krog [Circle]
|
Center za slovensko književnost
|
2018 | Tone Škrjanec
|
Dihaj [Breathe] | Center za slovensko književnost
|
NOVO MESTO AWARD
The novo mesto Prize is a literary prize awarded annually for the best short story collection of the previous year. It is organised by the publishing house Goga with the cooperation of the Slovene Association of Literary Critics. The nominees are presented at the annual three-day Novo mesto short festival, where the winner is presented on the last day.
Year
|
Recipient | Title
|
Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Franci Novak
|
Obvoz [Detour]
|
LUD literatura
|
2021 | LUD literatura
|
Nezakonita melanholija [Unlawful Melancholy] | LUD Šerpa
|
2020 | Sergej Curanović
|
Plavalec [The Swimmer]
|
Cankarjeva založba
|
2019 | Vesna Lemaić
|
Dobrodošli [Welcome]
|
Cankarjeva založba
|
2018 | Eva Markun
|
Menažerija [Menagerie]
|
JSKD
|
KRESNIK AWARD
The Kresnik prize is the highest award for the best Slovenian novel of the previous year and holds a special place in Slovenian literature. The prize, which is awarded by the media company Delo, was first bestowed in June 1991, the year of the birth of the Slovenian state. The award ceremony is also a summer cultural ritual, which takes place on Bonfire Night, on the 23rd of June.
Year
|
Recipient
|
Title
|
Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Roman Rozina
|
Sto let slepote [Hundred Years of Blindness]
|
Mladinska knjiga
|
2021 | Borut Kraševec
|
Agni [Agni] | LUD Šerpa
|
2020 | Veronika Simonit
|
Ivana pred morjem [Ivana in Front of the Sea]
|
Cankarjeva založba
|
2019 | Bronja Žakelj
|
Belo se pere na devetdeset [Whites Wash at Ninety]
|
Beletrina
|
2018 | Drago Jančar
|
In ljubezen tudi [And Love Itself]
|
Beletrina
|
CANKAR AWARD
The Cankar Award, a tribute to the great Slovenian writer Ivan Cankar (1876–1918), is awarded annually for the best original literary work of the past year, published as an individual book in Slovenian language. The award-winning work can be from any area of Cankar’s creative opus (a poetry collection, a novel, a drama, a collection of short stories or essays). The award was established in September 2019 by the Slovenian PEN Centre, the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU) and the University of Ljubljana.
Year
|
Recipient
|
Title
|
Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2023 | Mojca Kumerdej
|
Gluha soba [The Deaf Room]
|
Goga
|
2022 | Simona Semenič
|
Tri igre za punce [Three Plays for Girls]
|
Beletrina
|
2021 | Gašper Kralj
|
Škrbine [Stubs]
|
Založba /*cf
|
2020 | Sebastijan Pregelj
|
V Elvisovi sobi [In Elvis's Room]
|
Goga |
KRŠKO SITO AWARD
The Kritiško sito is a literary prize awarded since 2012 by Slovene Literary Critics Association. It is the only prize awarded by literary critics for the best literary work by a Slovenian author in the previous year. The widest possible critical forum is involved in the selection of the winner, as all members of the Association have the opportunity to evaluate, and all books are included, regardless of genre or other criteria. Voting is done in two rounds, and the winning book is the one that receives the most votes.
Year
|
Recipient
|
Title
|
Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Ana Marwan
|
Zabubljena [Cocooned]
|
Beletrina
|
2021 | Muanis Sinanović
|
Krhke karavane [Fragile Caravans]
|
LUD Literatura |
2020 | Anja Golob
|
Da ne da ne bo več prišla … [That it won’t that it won't come …] | Self-published
|
2019 | Jernej Županič
|
Mamuti [Mammoths]
|
LUD Literatura
|
2018 | Milan Jesih
|
Maršal [Marshal]
|
Beletrina |
ROŽANC AWARD
The Rožanc Award is an award for the best collection of essays, which has been awarded since 1993. It was originally awarded by the Slovenian newspaper Dnevnik and the publishing house Mihelač. In 1998, the Marjan Rožanec Fund took over the organisation, funding, appointment and coordination of the jury. The Fund was established by Mihelač and Nova Revija publishing houses.
Year
|
Recipient
|
Title
|
Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Uroš Zupan
|
Znamenja v kroženju [Signs in Circling]
|
LUD Literatura
|
2021 | Robert Simonišek
|
Pejsaži: sanjati na soncu [Landscapes – Dreaming in the Sun]
|
Družina
|
2020 | Esad Babačić
|
Veš, mašina, svoj dolg [Machine, do You Know What You Owe]
|
Cankarjeva založba
|
2019 | Marcel Štefančič, jr.
|
Ivan Cankar: eseji o največjem [Ivan Cankar: Essays About the Greatest]
|
UMco
|
2018 | Jasmin B. Frelih
|
Bleda svoboda [Pale Freedom]
|
Cankarjeva založba
|
DESETNICA AWARD
The Desetnica Award is presented by the Children’s and Youth Literature Section at the Slovene Writers’ Association in Ljubljana for best children’s or young adult literary work. Only members of the Slovene Writers’ Association are eligible for this award, which is given annually for an author’s work published over the last three years.
Year
|
Recipient | Title
|
Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2023 | Andrej Predin
|
Arlan pod preprogo [Arlan Under the Carpet]
|
Morfemplus
|
2022 | Mateja Gomboc
|
Balada o drevesu [The Ballad for the Tree]
|
Miš založba
|
2021 | Damjan Šinigoj
|
Kjer veter spi [Where the Wind Sleeps]
|
Miš založba
|
2020 | Jana Bauer
|
Ding dong zgodbe [Ding Dong Stories]
|
KUD Sodobnost International
|
2019 | Andrej Rozman Roza
|
Pesmi iz galerije [Poems from the Gallery]
|
Narodna galerija
|
VEČERNICA AWARD
The Večernica Award is presented for the best new literary work for children or young adults published by a Slovene publishing house or author in the past year. The award has been presented every year since 1997. The ceremony takes place in September at the traditional meeting of Slovene authors of children’s and young adult literature Eye of the Word (Oko besede) in Murska Sobota.
Year
|
Recipient
|
Title
|
Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Maša Ogrizek
|
Lisičja luna [Fox Moon]
|
Miš založba
|
2021 | Sebastijan Pregelj
|
Vrnitev (Zgodbe s konca kamene dobe, 6. del)
|
Miš založba
|
2020 | Andrej Rozman - Roza
|
Rimuzine in črkolazen [Rhymosines and Letterscum]
|
Mladinska knjiga
|
2019 | Andrej E. Skubic
|
Babi nima več telefona [Granny no Longer has a Phone]
|
Mladinska knjiga
|
2018 | Anja Štefan
|
Drobtine iz mišje doline [Tunes from mousedale dunes]
|
Mladinska knjiga
|
GOLDEN PEAR AWARD
The Golden Pear Award is presented since 2010 by Pionirska - Centre for Children's Literature and Librarianship (Ljubljana City Library) within the national project Golden Pear, which strives to promote quality works of children’s and young adult literature in the Slovene book market. Pionirska gives the Golden Pear Rating to the finest works, published by Slovenian publishers in last year. All these books receive a Golden Pear Rating, the Golden Pear Award is given to the best Slovenian fiction book and to the best Slovenian non-fiction book.
Year
|
Recipient
|
Title
|
Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Mihael Glavan
|
Naš Jurčič [Our Jurčič]
|
Mestna knjižnica Grosuplje
|
2022 | Vinko Möderndorfer
|
Romeo in Julija iz sosednje ulice [Romeo and Juliet from Next Door];
|
Miš založba
|
2021 | Nataša Strlič, Damjan Stepančič
|
Osamosvojitev [Independence]
|
Miš založba
|
2021 | Simona Semenič
|
Skrivno društvo KRVZ [Secret Society KRVZ]
|
Mladinska knjiga
|
2019 | Feri Lainšček
|
Prvotnost: poema o ljubezni [Origins – A Poem About Love]
|
Mladinska knjiga
|
2018 | Anja Štefan
|
Drobtine iz mišje doline [Tunes from mousedale dunes];
|
Mladinska knjiga
|
2018 | Rada Kos
|
Iz lončka v lonec: naravno vrtnarjenje za male in velike vrtnarje ter odlični recepti iz domače kuhinje [From Pot to Pot: Natural Gardening for Small and Large Gardeners with Great Recipes from the Home Kitchen]
|
Allegro
|
KRISTINA BRENKOVA AWARD
The Kristina Brenkova Original Slovene Picture Book Award was founded by the Association for Press and Media at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia. Its purpose is to promote creative Slovene picture books and at the same time contribute to an increased public interest in them. The award is aimed at Slovene picture book authors, illustrators and publishers.
Year
|
Recipient
|
Title | Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Jana Bauer, Peter Škerl
|
Kako objeti ježa [How to Hug a Hedgehog]
|
KUD Sodobnost International
|
2021 | Nataša Strlič, Damijan Stepančič
|
Osamosvojitev [Independence]
|
Miš založba
|
2020 | Peter Svetina, Igor Šinkovec
|
Timbuktu, Timbuktu [Timbuktu, Timbuktu]
|
Miš založba
|
2019 | Andreja Peklar
|
Luna in jaz [Moon and me]
|
KUD Sodobnost International
|
2018 | Ivan Cankar, Peter Škerl
|
Skodelica kave [A Cup of Coffee]
|
Miš založba
|
More information about the Awards at SLOVENIA: Its Publishing Landscape and Readership.