The Argana International Poetry Prize 2026, in its 18th edition, has been awarded to Palestinian poetry, represented by the poets Ghassan Zaqtan, Youssef Abdul Aziz, Taher Riyad and Zuhair Abu Shaib. This marks the first time in the award’s history that the honour has been conferred, in a meaningful gesture, on a poetic tradition rather than a single poet.
The jury’s citation noted that awarding Palestinian poetry, based on four distinct poetic experiences, reflects a form of poetic friendship that has long characterised Morocco’s cultural relationship with this body of work. It is a friendship grounded in an appreciation of the universal dimension of Palestinian poetry, as well as a recognition of its rich diversity within that same dimension.
The jury of the prize, granted annually by the House of Poetry in Morocco in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, was chaired by poet Wafaa Lamrani. The jury included academic Abderrahman Tenkoul, visual artist Ahmed Jarid, academic Jamal Eddine Benhayoun, poet and translator Noureddine Zouitni, and poet Hassan Najmi, the Secretary-General of the Argana International Poetry Prize.
The four poets will share the cash prize equally, with each also receiving the prize shield and a certificate of recognition during an official ceremony scheduled for April 25, 2026, at 7:30 pm at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, as part of nationwide celebrations marking Rabat as World Book Capital 2026.
