May 8th, 2026 — This evening in Florence, Italy, the Gregor von Rezzori Prize for best foreign fiction was awarded to 2026 incoming Writing Fellow Isabella Hammad for her book Entra il fantasma (Marsilio) translated into Italian by Maurizia Balmelli. Samanta Scweblin (CRF 2011) was a finalist in the category. Isabella’s book has also been shortlisted for the final round of the Best European Fiction category of Il Premio Strega, the Strega Prize. The winner will be announced on May 18th during the Turin International Book Fair.
The Gregor von Rezzori Prize for best translation into Italian was awarded to Yasmina Melaouah for her translation of Mélancolie des confins. Nord (Edizioni E/O) by current Writing Fellow in residence, Mathias Enard (CRF 2026). Italian actress Sonia Bergamasco read an excerpt at the ceremony.
About the Award
This is the 20th edition of the Gregor von Rezzori Prize, conceived in 2007 by The Santa Maddalena Foundation. Taking place across three days, with events, conferences between writers and the public, it culminates in a ceremony where the best work of foreign fiction published in Italy in the previous year receives an award, along with the best translation into Italian. Past winners include Hisham Matar, Juan Gabriel Vásquez, George Saunders, Annie Ernaux, and Richard Powers. Among the jurors for best foreign fiction was Maylys De Kerengal (CRF 2023).
Isabella participated in a conversation with the rest of the finalists earlier in the day on May 8th and just a few hours later was announced the winner at Sala Pegaso of Palazzo Guadagni Strozzi Sacrati.
Learn more at premiogregorvonrezzori.org.
