Anne Carson wins 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature

Born in Canada, Carson studied at the University of Toronto before building an academic career that has included teaching comparative literature and creative writing at universities in Canada and the United States.

Her literary career spans poetry, essays and classical scholarship, with more than 20 books to her name. Her work frequently draws on ancient literature and mythology while exploring contemporary questions around love, desire, loss and despair.

Known for blending classical influences with unconventional literary forms, Carson has developed a distinctive style that has earned her international recognition across poetry and literary scholarship.

Her selection continues a long tradition of the Nobel Prize in Literature recognising writers whose work has expanded the possibilities of literary expression.

Carson succeeds Hungarian writer László Krasznahorkai, who received the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature.