Nicaraguan poet and novelist Gioconda Belli won the 2026 FIL Prize for Literature in Romance Languages on August 31, one of Latin America's most prestigious literary awards, carrying a prize of $150,000. The award ceremony will be held on November 28, during the opening of the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL).
The decision was announced by a jury composed of writers Alain Mabanckou, Carmen Alemany, and Sabina Longhitano, among other voices. The jury described Belli's work as a "direct and everyday expression that has revitalized the poetics of the body, desire, and feminine pleasure," according to Excélsior. The FIL is one of the premier editorial gatherings of the Spanish-speaking world, and for the Latin community in North America the recognition carries particular resonance: it honors an author from the Central American diaspora whose work, written largely in exile, speaks to identity, freedom, and belonging, themes that resonate deeply with many readers living outside their countries of origin, according to Crónica.
Belli, born in Managua in 1948, has accumulated more than five decades of work spanning poetry, novels, and essays. Her novel La mujer habitada, published in 1988, weaves Nicaragua's history together with women's participation in social struggles; also notable are El país de las mujeres and the autobiographical work El país bajo mi piel. In 2023, Nicaraguan authorities stripped her of her citizenship, along with that of other government critics, and she has since lived in exile, having obtained Spanish citizenship. The award adds to prior recognition including the Queen Sofía Prize for Ibero-American Poetry.
FIL will celebrate its 40th edition from November 28 to December 6 at Expo Guadalajara, with Italy as the guest of honor; the awards ceremony will open the fair. With this prize, one of the most influential voices in Central American literature becomes the centerpiece of the upcoming edition, and her work will continue to resonate with readers who follow her from exile.
This article was written with artificial intelligence assistance based on verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.