We present the results of the first season of the Dar Literary Award and share our plans for the next season.
Первый сезон независимой литературной премии «Дар» официально завершился 24 мая 2025 года. Приём заявок на второй сезон начнется 1 сентября и продлится до 15-го октября 2025-го года.
The main goal of the award was to support Russian-language authors and publishers — and Dar accomplished this mission.
Chairman of the Award Jury, writer Mikhail Shishkin
What can be said in summary of the first season of the Dar Literary Award? First and foremost, despite all the anticipated difficulties, the award came into being. And that is already a success. The award was organized by remarkable people, writers, poets, critics, philosophers, artists, musicians, directors, and well-known cultural figures who represent the true culture of the country that has exiled them as enemies. People of culture are the enemies of the regime that has taken both the population and the language itself hostage. The Dar Prize is a statement that the Russian language is our weapon of resistance and belongs not to a gangster state, but to world culture.
The aim of the award is to help writers, publishers, and readers who find themselves in a situation where literary life has to start practically from scratch. We have drawn the attention of Russian-speaking readers to the books on the shortlist, and translators and Western publishers have shown interest in our authors and their texts. These stated objectives have been achieved, which is also a great success.
It is only natural and entirely appropriate that Ukraine has become the main theme. It could not be otherwise. The war could not fail to influence the authors, readers, and the jury's decision. As is well known, the first winner of the Dar Prize was Maria Galina's diary, “Near the War,” written in Odessa under bombardment.
It was initially clear that a Russian-language prize in the fourth year of the war would meet with a mixed attitude in Ukraine. Maria Galina's refusal to accept the prize should be treated with understanding and we should continue to do this important and necessary work.
We are receiving an enormous wave of support from all sides: writers and publishers are writing to say that they are preparing to submit books for the competition, PEN International is asking us to continue with the award, and Ukrainian Russian-language writers, poets, and publishers are expressing their support. People are writing to us about the importance of the work we have begun and asking us not to stop.
A global cultural shift is currently underway: a transition from Russian literature to literature in Russian. Writers living in different countries around the world who write in Russian are not producing “Russian literature” but their own literature, and they are accountable for their texts not to their “fatherland” but to the global culture of humanity. We continue. The acceptance of books for the second season will begin on September 1. Writers write books, publishers publish them – the Dar Prize makes literary history.
Below are the key figures, details of the two parts of the competition (the jury's work and the readers' vote), and details about the second season.
Last fall, we received more than 150 applications, from which our expert council selected 12 shortlisted participants. Next, a professional jury (headed by writer Mikhail Shishkin) began its work. По правилам Премии — победитель получает грант на перевод своей книги на английский, французский и немецкий языки.
The jury's grand prize in the first season was awarded to:
Maria Galina for the book
“Near the war. Odessa. February 2022 — lute 2023”
“This is a profound and sincere text about how war changes people and preserves their humanity.”
— Mikhail Shishkin
Maria Galina subsequently declined the prize; her statement and statement by the jury chairman can be read on the website.
At the same time as the jury was working, a reader vote was held. Readers could support their favorite book with their vote — a donation of €10.
Победителем читательского голосования считается та книга, которая набрала наибольшее количество голосов.
Average size of one donut: € 13,65
The winner of the reader's vote was:
Sergey Solovyov with the novel “The Smile of Shakti.”
The full texts of the books on the shortlist were not posted on the website. In this way, the organizers of the award wanted to support not only the authors, but also publishers and bookstores.
People from more than 70 countries took an interest in the Dar Prize.
Through its own social networks and publications, the Dar Prize attracted the attention of almost 400 000 users, providing about 600 000 views of the materials.
In addition, jury members and trustees (including well-known cultural figures) actively shared information about the award on their social media accounts and in interviews.
Our audience has clearly defined main interests:
Below is a summary of key indicators for the finalists (total donations, number of transactions, average donation, votes).
| Book | Ср. донат (€) | Голоса |
| SHAKTI'S SMILE | 10,69 | 211 |
| ВОЗЛЕ ВОЙНЫ. Одесса. Февраль 2022 — лютый 2023 | 27,84 | 207 |
| BOARDING SCHOOL STORIES | 11,60 | 157 |
| MY FIRST BOMB SHELTER | 10,79 | 140 |
| THE NIGHT WE DISAPPEARED | 10,83 | 128 |
| LUSHA | 12,15 | 96 |
| GOD IS +/- | 15,06 | 83 |
| KOMMUNALKA ON PETROGRADKA | 10,99 | 72 |
| HABITAT EVIDENCE | 10,65 | 63 |
| БЫЛЬ ОБ ОТЦЕ, СЫНЕ, ШПИОНАХ… | 11,61 | 62 |
| DIXON | 10,51 | 59 |
| SPRINGFIELD | 11,64 | 56 |
| Итого | 13,90 | 1 334 |
Applications for the second season will be accepted from September 1 to October 15, 2025.
All details are available on the website DarPrize.com.
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The Dar Prize supports new voices and the best examples of independent contemporary Russian-language literature, promoting it in the global cultural space.
We accept submissions from all authors writing in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. Only published works will be considered.
The selection criteria can be found on the website DarPrize.com
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Prize is awarded annually. The Jury holds a vote in which each member selects between one and three works. The author whose work receives the highest number of votes becomes the winner.
What Awards Are Provided?
The Prize winner receives a grant for the translation of their work into English, French, and German.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Submissions for the third season of the prize will open on July 15, 2026, and close on October 15, 2026.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
On January 20, 2027, the Council of Experts will announce the shortlist. The Independent Jury will announce the winner on May 25, 2027.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
Works published in 2025 are eligible for the third season of the competition. Eligible works (novels, novellas, short story and essay collections, documentary prose) may have been published either as standalone editions or in literary magazines. Nominations may be submitted by publishing houses and magazine editorial boards, as well as by the authors themselves or third parties (with the author's consent and written confirmation). Texts must be submitted for consideration in electronic format. The DAR Prize is open to all authors. Given the prize's main goals — promoting contemporary Russian-language literature outside of Russia — and the nature of the award itself (a translation grant), priority will be given to authors whose works have not previously been translated into English, French, or German.
