Literary Awards
Since 1963, the PEN America Literary Awards have honored many of the most outstanding voices in literature across diverse genres, including fiction, poetry, science writing, essays, sports writing, biography, children’s literature, and drama. With the help of our partners, PEN America confers over 20 distinct awards, fellowships, grants and prizes each year, awarding nearly $350,000 to writers and translators. For regular updates on our Literary Awards, subscribe to our mailing list.
For information regarding the Los Angeles Literary Awards—formerly known as the PEN Center USA Literary Awards—click here.
News
The 2018 PEN America Literary Awards Winners
PEN America is thrilled to announce the 2018 PEN America Literary Awards winners. Our awards are juried by panels of esteemed, award-winning writers, editors, booksellers, and critics. Learn more… More
2018 PEN America Lifetime and Career Achievement Honorees
In addition to PEN America's book awards, which celebrate the best books published in a given year, PEN America also honors the outstanding careers and lifetime contributions to the… More
2018 PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers
The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers recognizes 12 emerging fiction writers each year for their debut short story published during a given calendar year in… More
The 2018 PEN America Literary Awards Finalists
PEN America is thrilled to announce the 2018 PEN America Literary Awards finalists. Our awards are juried by panels of esteemed, award-winning writers, editors, booksellers, and critics. Learn more… More
Announcing the 2018 PEN America Literary Awards Longlists
PEN America is thrilled to announce the longlists for the 2018 PEN America Literary Awards. Our awards are juried by panels of esteemed, award-winning writers, editors, booksellers, and critics.… More
Meet the 2018 Literary Awards Judges
PEN America’s 2018 Literary Awards judges join a long tradition of esteemed writers committed to recognizing their contemporaries, from promising debut writers to those who have had a long… More
View a full list of our awards, grants, and fellowships, both past and present.
Search the PEN Literary Awards archives and our Frequently Asked Questions.
Find links to work by and interviews with featured honorees.