Celebrating European literature: EUPL 2025 ceremony highlights from Prague

From 15 to 17 May 2025, EIBF had the pleasure of joining literary professionals from across Europe in the beautiful city of Prague for the 2025 announcement ceremony of the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL), held within the vibrant atmosphere of the International Book Fair and Literary Festival Book World Prague. 

As part of the EUPL Consortium, we were proud to support the event that puts the spotlight on emerging European literary voices – and this year’s ceremony was one to remember. 

On 15 May, we kicked off our programme by welcoming the seven-person international jury and representatives of national nominating organisations to the Fair. Throughout the day, these national partners pitched the 13 shortlisted titles, offering jury members insight into the cultural and literary context of each book and its author. 

The following morning, on 16 May, we co-hosted a dedicated workshop for publishers and nominating organisations. Together with our EUPL partners, the Federation of European Publishers (FEP), we introduced the aims and impact of the Prize and how it can serve as a launchpad for international visibility and rights sales. Aurélie Bontout-Roche, the EUPL’s International Project Manager for Publishers and Agents, presented her role in supporting the international outreach of EUPL authors, outlining practical ways publishers and agents can collaborate with the Prize to amplify its impact. We were also pleased to welcome representatives of the European Commission’s DG EAC, who introduced the Creative Europe programme and its funding opportunities, reinforcing the essential link between cultural policy and the European literary ecosystem. 

The highlight of the three days was, of course, the EUPL Award Ceremony held on the evening of 16 May in the beautiful Bohemian Pavilion. With all 13 shortlisted authors in attendance, the ceremony opened with remarks from European Commissioner Glenn Micallef, who underlined the Prize’s role in celebrating the linguistic and cultural richness of Europe. The evening was hosted by Czech journalist and musician Petr Vizina, whose thoughtful reflections and energy set a warm tone. 

We are thrilled to join our fellow consortium members in announcing the 2025 EUPL Laureate: 

Nicoletta Verna (Italy) for I Giorni di Vetro 

Two Special Mentions were awarded to: 

Sheila Armstrong (Ireland) for Falling Animals 

Philippe Marczewski (Belgium) for Quand Cécile 

These three authors stood out for the exceptional literary merit of their work and the promise they hold for cross-border readership. A lively reception and dinner followed the ceremony, providing an opportunity for the EUPL network to connect, toast to European literature, and discuss the stories that brought us all together in Prague. 

Before leaving Prague, on 17 May we organised a final workshop for the 13 shortlisted authors. The session focused on how the Prize can help elevate their careers, not just in the weeks and months following the ceremony, but also in the long term. We explored international visibility, translation opportunities, and the power of collaboration within the EUPL network. 

The EUPL ceremony in Prague reminded us how important it is to champion books, authors, and the human stories they carry across borders. We’re proud to be part of a prize that doesn’t just reward talent – it nurtures it, translates it, and gets it into the hands of readers across Europe and beyond. We extend our congratulations to the laureate, special mentions, and all shortlisted authors. We look forward to seeing your stories on bookshelves across the continent and beyond!