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SURREY, B.C. (August 18, 2026) — Three authors have advanced to the final stage of the 2026 Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature, competing for a combined $51,000 CAD in awards — one of the largest prize purses for fiction among South Asia’s indigenous languages.
The stage is now set for the finalists to travel to Vancouver, B.C., where the winner will be announced at award ceremonies on Nov. 18, 2026 at Northview Golf & Country Club in Surrey, B.C.
The 2026 winner will receive $25,000 CAD, while two finalists will each receive $10,000 CAD.
An additional $6,000 CAD will support the transliteration of the three award-winning books into Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi, helping them reach Punjabi readers across the world.
The finalists were announced at 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 18, 2026, at Surrey Libraries’ Newton branch. They were selected from 58 eligible submissions from India, Canada, Pakistan, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The 2026 Finalists of the Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature are:
Nawan Pind (‘New Village’), ਨਵਾਂ ਪਿੰਡ, نواں پنڈ
Novel by Amber Hosseini (Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan), ਨਾਵਲ, ਐਂਬਰ ਹੁਸੈਨੀ ਦੁਆਰਾ (ਸਰਗੋਧਾ, ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ)
ناول, امبر حُیسنی دوارا (سر گودھا، پنجاب، پاکستان)
Shahmukhi, published by Punjabi Markaz, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, ਸ਼ਾਹਮੁਖੀ, ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਕ: ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਮਾਰਕਜ਼, ਲਹੌਰ, ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ
پبلشر، پرکاشک: پنجابی مرکز، لہور، پنجاب، پاکستان
Parchhawan (‘Shadow’), ਪਰਛਾਵਾਂ, پرچھاواں
Novel by Akmal Shazad Ghuman (Islamabad, Capital Territory, Pakistan), ਨਾਵਲ, ਅਕਮਲ ਸ਼ਹਿਜ਼ਾਦ ਘੁੰਮਣ ਦੁਆਰਾ (ਇਸਲਾਮਾਬਾਦ, ਰਾਜਧਾਨੀ ਖੇਤਰ, ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ)
ناول, اکمل شہزاد گھمن دوارا (اسلامہ باد، راج دھانی کھیتر، پاکستان)
Shahmukhi, published by Nigarshat Publishers, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, ਸ਼ਾਹਮੁਖੀ, ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਕ: ਨਿਗਾਰਸ਼ਤ ਪਬਲਿਸ਼ਰਜ਼, ਲਹੌਰ, ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ
پبلشر، پرکاشک: نگارشات پبلشرز، لہور، پنجاب، پاکستان
Qabran Vich Ugge Phull (‘Flowers Growing in a Graveyard’), ਕਬਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਉੱਗੇ ਫੁੱਲ, قبراں وچ اُگے پُھل
Short Stories by Rajpreet Kaur Benipal (Khanna, Punjab, India), ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸੰਗ੍ਰਹਿ, ਰਾਜਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਬੈਨੀਪਾਲ ਦੁਆਰਾ (ਖੰਨਾ, ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਇੰਡੀਆ)
کہانی سنگریہ, راج پریت کور بینیپال دوارا (کھنہ، پنجاب، انڈیا)
Gurmukhi, published by Caliber Publication, Patiala, Punjab, India, ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ, ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਕ: ਕੈਲੀਬਰ ਪਬਲੀਕੇਸ਼ਨ, ਪਟਿਆਲਾ, ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਇੰਡੀਆ
گُرمُکھی, پبلشر: کیلیبر پبلیکیشن، پٹیالہ، پنجاب، انڈیا
“For 14 years, we’ve been celebrating the writers who are shaping the future of Punjabi literature,” said Barj S. Dhahan, primary founder of the Prize. “These finalists represent the creativity and diversity of Punjabi fiction as it evolves in our time. Their stories demonstrate the strength of a literary tradition that continues to connect readers across the world.”
Established in 2013, the Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature is recognized as one of the world’s leading honours for Punjabi fiction in both Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi scripts.
The Prize was founded in Vancouver, B.C., reflecting the province’s longstanding connection to Punjabi language, culture and communities. Punjabi is the third most spoken non-official language in Canada, according to the 2021 Census.
About The Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature:
The Prize is awarded by the Canada India Education Society (CIES) and was created in partnership with the Department of Asian Studies at University of British Columbia (UBC). It is currently funded by Barj and Rita Dhahan along with family and friends. Its presenting sponsor is Royal Bank of Canada Foundation. Corporate sponsors include Harj & Darshan Grewal of RBC Dominion Securities, G.L. Smith Planning & Design, Tim Hortons and others.
For more information: https://dhahanprize.com/about/
Contact information:
(604) 278-6721
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