Canadian poet and writer Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature for her innovative work combining classical traditions with contemporary literary forms, the Swedish Academy announced on Thursday.
The academy awarded the 76-year-old writer the prize for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature.
Carson, a graduate of the University of Toronto, is regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary English-language poetry. Her work blends poetry, essays, translation and classical scholarship, often challenging conventional literary genres.
Born in Toronto in 1950, Carson is known for works including “Autobiography of Red”, “The Beauty of the Husband” and “Nox”, which draw on ancient Greek literature while exploring contemporary themes of love, loss and identity.
The award carries a cash prize of 12 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.2 million) and will be presented at a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
University of Toronto President Melanie Woodin welcomed the announcement, saying: “We are very proud of our alumna. This is a proud day for our global alumni community.”
Carson is the second Canadian to win the prize after Alice Munro, who received the award in 2013, and the 19th female laureate in the prize’s 123-year history.
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature went to Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai, while South Korean writer Han Kang received the award in 2024.
