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Surrey, B.C. (August 12, 2026) – The Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature, the world’s leading award dedicated to new Punjabi fiction, has announced its 2026 shortlist. Six outstanding books are now in contention for $51,000 CAD in cumulative awards.
The Dhahan Prize awards a $25,000 CAD grand prize, two $10,000 CAD finalist prizes. It also awards $6,000 CAD to support the transliteration of the awarded books into Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi. The goal is to make them accessible to readers across the Punjabi-speaking world.
The three finalists for the 2026 Dhahan Prize will be announced at yet-to-be-scheduled media conference.
In November, finalists receive airfare to and hotel accommodations in Metro Vancouver, where they participate in a series of literary events. The tour will culminate in an awards ceremony where the winner is announced. Ceremonies will take place on November 18, 2026, at Northview Golf & Country Club in Surrey, British Columbia.
This year’s ceremonies will feature Canadian Punjabi poet Harman Kaur as keynote speaker, along with musical performances and a celebratory banquet.
“The Dhahan Prize recognizes writers who tell stories that deserve to be read beyond borders,” said Barj S. Dhahan, founder of the Prize. “Every year we see the depth and diversity of Punjabi literature. Our goal is to help these voices reach new readers while preserving one of the world’s great literary traditions.”
The shortlisted candidates are:
(Note: click on authors’ names below to view their portrait and book citation)
The 2026 Dhahan Prize Shortlist, ਢਾਹਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਾਈਜ਼ 2026 ਦੀ ਛੋਟੀ ਸੂਚੀ, ڈھاہاں انعام 2026 دی چھوٹی سوچی
Ambar Kde Khali Ne Hunde (‘The Skies Are Never Empty’), ਅੰਬਰ ਕਦੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਨ੍ਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੇ, انبر کدے خالی نہیں ہوندے
Short Stories by Harpreet Singh Channu (Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab, India), ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸੰਗ੍ਰਹਿ, ਹਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੰਨੂੰ ਦੁਆਰਾ (ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮੁਕਤਸਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਇੰਡੀਆ)
کہانی سنگریہ, ہرپریت سنگھ چنوں دوارا (سری مکتسر صاحب، پنجاب، انڈیا)
Gurmukhi, published by Saptrishi Publication, Chandigarh, India, ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ, ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਕ: ਸਪਤਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਪਬਲੀਕੇਸ਼ਨ, ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, ਇੰਡੀਆ
گُرمُکھی, پبلشر: سپترشی پبلیکیشن، چنڈی گڑھ، انڈیا
Khora (‘Erosion’), ਖੋਰਾ, کھورا
Novel by Dharampal Sahil (Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India), ਨਾਵਲ, ਧਰਮਪਾਲ ਸਾਹਿਲ ਦੁਆਰਾ (ਹੁਸ਼ਿਆਰਪੁਰ, ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਇੰਡੀਆ)
ناول, دھرم پال ساحل دوارا (ہشیار پور، پنجاب، انڈیا)
Gurmukhi, published by Chetna Parkashan, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ, ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਕ: ਚੇਤਨਾ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਨ, ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ, ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਇੰਡੀਆ
گُرمُکھی, پبلشر: چیتنا پرکاشن، لدھیانہ، پنجاب، انڈیا
Laal Ratta (‘Crimson Red Shawl’), ਲਾਲ ਰੱਤਾ, لال رتاّ
Short Stories by Bhupinder Singh Maan (Bathinda, Punjab, India), ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸੰਗ੍ਰਹਿ, ਭੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਮਾਨ ਦੁਆਰਾ (ਬਠਿੰਡਾ, ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਇੰਡੀਆ)
کہانی سنگریہ, بھوپندر سنگھ مان دوارا (بٹھنڈہ، پنجاب، انڈیا)
Gurmukhi, published by Urha Publication, Moga, Punjab, India, ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ, ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਕ: ਊੜਾ ਪਬਲੀਕੇਸ਼ਨ, ਮੋਗਾ, ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਇੰਡੀਆ
گُرمُکھی, پبلشر: اوڑا پبلیکیشن، موگا، پنجاب، انڈیا
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
Established in 2013, the Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature has become one of the most respected literary honours for Punjabi-language fiction. The Prize recognizes literary excellence and promotes Punjabi literature to readers around the world.
This year’s submissions were received from India, Pakistan, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, reflecting the international reach of Punjabi literature and the growing recognition of the Prize.
Entries are evaluated through a rigorous, multi-stage adjudication process by independent juries of scholars, writers, and literary experts specializing in either Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi—the two primary scripts used to write Punjabi. A central jury then selects the finalists, ensuring representation from both writing traditions.
About The Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature:
The Prize was created as a collaboration between the Canada India Education Society (CIES) and the University of British Columbia (UBC), Department of Asian Studies.
Its presenting sponsor is Royal Bank of Canada Foundation.
Corporate sponsors include Harj and Darshan Grewal, Portfolio Managers at RBC Dominion Securities Inc., G.L. Smith Planning and Design and Tim Hortons, among others.
Coast Capital Savings sponsors an offshoot to the Prize, The Dhahan Youth Award.
Barj Dhahan, co-founder of CIES, along with his family and friends, are primary supporters of the Prize.
For more information: https://dhahanprize.com/about/
Contact information:
(604) 278-6721
X: https://twitter.com/DhahanPrize
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DhahanPrize
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhahanprize/
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