MUSCAT: The Bait AlGhasham–DarArab International Translation Prize on Sunday announced the shortlists for its 2026 cycle across three categories — Translators, Authors and Omani Publications — following the completion of all judging stages and final reviews.
The 2026 shortlists reflect a cycle marked by wide participation and notable diversity, spanning multiple literary genres and a broad range of geographic backgrounds. This year also saw submissions from translators based outside the Arab world, underscoring the Prize’s expanding regional and international reach.
Shortlist – Translators Category in alphabetical order by English title
Angel of the South, translated by Peter Theroux — by Najem Wali
Cairo Marquette, translated by Katherine Van de Vate — by Tareq Imam
People and Lizards, translated by Osama Hammad and Marianne Dhenin — by Hassan Abdel Mawgoud
Things Are Not in Their Place, translated by Zia Ahmed — by Huda Hamad
Village of the Hundred, translated by Enas El Torky — by Rehab Luay
Shortlist – Authors category, alphabetical order by Arabic title
Abad Ghayr Mariyya — Short-story collection by Mustafa Mallah
Al Matador — Novel by Majdi Daibes
Jibal Al Judari — Novel by Abd Al Hadi Shaalan
Jarash Jarash — Novel by Wael Raddad
Kain Ghayr Sawi — Novel by Tahir Al Noor
Shortlist – Omani publications category, alphabetical order by Arabic title
Tahta Zill Al Zilal — Novel by Mohammed Qart Al Jazmi
Arous Al Gharqa — Novel by Amal Abdullah
Qawanin Al Faqd — Short-story collection by Mazen Habeeb
The shortlists were selected by independent judging panels operating under the supervision of the Prize’s Board of Trustees, chaired by Marilyn Booth, an internationally recognised translator and scholar of Arabic literature. Board members also include Mohammed al Yahyaei, a writer and cultural historian, and Sawad Hussain, an award-winning Arabic-to-English translator.
The Translators Category jury comprised of Dr Samaher al Dhamen, a specialist in comparative literature and cultural studies; Marcia Lynx Qualey, founder of ArabLit and a leading advocate of Arabic literature in translation; and Dr Luke Leafgren, an Arabic-English literary translator and two-time recipient of the Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize.
The Authors and Omani Publications categories were judged by Dr Amir Taj Al Sir, a widely translated novelist and physician; Bushra Khalfan, a prominent voice in contemporary Omani literature; and Yas al Saeedi, an Iraqi poet, novelist and playwright whose work has garnered multiple Arab and international awards.
According to official figures, the 2026 cycle received 346 submissions in the Authors Category, 34 in the Translators Category and 10 in the Omani Publications Category.
Launched three years ago through a partnership between the Bait AlGhasham Foundation for Press, Publishing and Advertising and DarArab for Publishing & Translation, the Prize is administered by DarArab and funded by the Bait AlGhasham Foundation. It aims to support Arabic literature and expand its global circulation through translation and international publishing.
The Prize carries a fund of £70,000 (approx), allocated across financial awards and professional support for translation, editing, publishing and international promotion. The winning works will be announced in conjunction with the Muscat International Book Fair 2026.
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