Fiston Mwanza Mujila awarded Austria's 2026 Erich Fried Prize

Congolese novelist and poet Fiston Mwanza Mujila has been selected as the 2026 recipient of Austria's Erich Fried Prize. The award, administered by the International Erich Fried Society and funded by Austria's Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport, includes a €15,000 cash prize. Mujila, now based in Austria, is recognised for works such as the novel Tram 83, The Villain’s Dance, and poetry collections that blend jazz rhythms, oral storytelling, and themes of colonialism, migration and political violence. Jury member Seel praised his ability to provoke fundamental questions about existence, hope and history. The prize ceremony will be held at the Literature House in Vienna on 15 November 2026.