Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the latest writer to receive the world’s most prestigious literary award.
The 76-year-old was recognised by the Swedish Academy for her “bold and inventive oeuvre” and her ability to create new forms for contemporary literature through a playful engagement with classical traditions.
Among her notable works is Norma Jeane Baker of Troy, a 2019 performance piece that places the mythical Helen of Troy alongside Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe. She has also written Autobiography of Red, The Beauty of the Husband and Nox.
The Nobel Prize comes with a cash award of 12 million Swedish kronor, worth roughly $1.2 million.
Carson was in Iceland when Swedish Academy permanent secretary Ingrid Carlberg called to tell her the news. The poet reportedly reacted with surprise and happiness, saying she was “listening to the wind.”
Carson becomes the latest Canadian writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature after the late author Alice Munro received the honour in 2013.
