LITERARY PRIZE “DAR” REGULATIONS

Purpose of the Prize

The Prize was established to support authors of literary works written in Russian, to attract reader and public attention to them, and to promote the best examples of new Russian- language literature in the world through the allocation of translation grants.

Conditions of participation in the competition

The competition is open to authors who write in Russian, regardless of their citizenship and place of residence. By nominating his/her/their work for the Prize, the author confirms that he/she/they shares and supports the public position and principles of the Prize as expressed in the Declaration of the Prize on its establishment.

Founders of the Prize

The activities of the Award shall be carried out by:

  • The Board of the Association;
  • The Working Group (Executive Director);
  • The Council of Founders;
  • The Council of Experts;
  • The Jury.

The Main Founder

The main Founder of the Prize is the Association Literary Prize “Dar”, founded by Swiss Slavists. The purpose of the Association is to promote new literary works written in Russian and support their translation into other languages. To achieve the stated goal, the Association establishes the Prize.

The Co-Founders

The Co-founders of the Prize are well-known writers and literary critics, culture and public figures, social and cultural organizations.

The Council of Founders

The Council of Founders by its composition ensures the authority of the Prize and guarantees the transparency of its activities.

The Board of the Association

The Board of the Association determines the Co-founders of the Prize, develops the regulations of the Expert Council and the Jury, appoints members of the Expert Council and invites members of the Jury. The Board develops the regulations of the Prize awarding. The Board appoints the Executive Director.

The Working Group (Executive Director)

The members of the Working Group (Executive Director) carry out all current coordination work of the Prize, correspondence, negotiations, represent the Prize, etc. The Executive Director is appointed by the Board of the Association.

The Council of Experts

Literary Works submitted for the Prize are selected by the Expert Council. Members of the Expert Council are appointed by the Board of the Association.

Jury

In addition to professional writers and literary critics, well-known cultural, scientific, educational figures, and public figures can be invited to the Jury. Members of the Jury are invited by the Board of the Association.
Members of the Founders' Council have the right to be members of the Jury at the same time.
If the author whose literary work is participating in the contest is a member of the Jury, then he/she/they may take part in the voting but may not vote for his/her/their literary work.

The Prize Procedure

The Prize is awarded annually.
The Prize competition is open to prose works published worldwide in the Russian language.
The winner(s) shall be decided by a vote of the Jury. Voting is carried out in writing, but openly, all information is available on the Internet on the Prize website.
Voting procedure: each member of the Jury selects one to three literary works from the final list. The author whose work received the most votes is declared the winner.
The Award consists of a grant for translation.

The Website of the Prize

All information concerning the establishment of the Prize, its objectives, procedure, Founders, Expert Council and Jury, literary works submitted to the competition, literary works selected by the Experts, voting results, current events, etc. appears on the Prize website.

The Prize Funding

The Prize is funded by public foundations and private sponsors.

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Participate in the 'Dar' Literary
Award

The winner is selected by a jury vote and receives a grant for translation into foreign languages.

Questions and answers

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.