Sally Rooney Leads Dublin Literary Award Longlist
Sally Rooney and Ní Mhaoleoin are among the prominent authors leading the 2026 Dublin Literary Award longlist. This recognition underscores their literary influence and highlights standout works worthy of attention from serious readers.
The Dublin Literary Award is one of the world's most valuable literary prizes, with the winner receiving €100,000. Sponsored by Dublin City Council, the award is unique because the longlist is compiled from nominations submitted by public libraries around the globe. For the 2026 award, 69 titles were nominated by 80 libraries from 36 countries. Sally Rooney's nominated novel, *Intermezzo*, was put forward by libraries in Redbridge and Liverpool in the UK. Ní Mhaoleoin's debut novel, *Ordinary Saints*, was nominated by Libraries Northern Ireland. Initially, five Irish authors had books nominated for the 2026 award. The 20-book longlist includes internationally renowned authors such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Alan Hollinghurst, and Ocean Vuong. Adichie's novel, *Dream Count*, received the most nominations, having been selected by libraries in Portugal, the Netherlands, and Egypt. The list also features six works in translation, including a novel by Polish Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk. The winner of the Dublin Literary Award will be chosen from a shortlist of six titles, which is scheduled to be announced on April 7th. The overall winner will then be revealed on May 21st as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin. If a translated work wins, the author receives €75,000, and the translator is awarded €25,000.
