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2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 AUGUST 2026 BOOKS Immanuel Mifsud awarded the European Homer Medal for Poetry and Art MALTESE author and poet Immanuel Mifsud has formally been presented with the 2026 European Homer Medal for Poetry and Art. The medal was presented by Dariusz Tomasz Lebioda, President of the Euro- pean Medal for Poetry and Art, during a ceremony attended by the Minister for the Arts, Cul- ture and National Heritage, Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, and the Executive Chairman of Arts Council Malta, Luke Dalli. Established in Brussels in 2016, the European Homer Medal for Poetry and Art rec- ognises writers and artists who have made significant contri- butions to international liter- ary and artistic culture. Pre- vious laureates include Nobel Prize-winning authors Mario Vargas Llosa and Wole Soyin- ka, as well as internationally acclaimed writers including Antonio Gamoneda, Jaan Kap- linski, Reiner Kunze, Adonis, Ida Vitale and Jorie Graham. Mifsud is one of two writers to receive the award in 2026, alongside Syrian-Kurdish po- et and novelist Salim Barakat. The medal recognises the depth and honesty with which Mifsud's work explores mem- ory, identity, family relation- ships, trauma and the human psyche. Agius Galea congratulat- ed Mifsud on this significant achievement, saying that Im- manuel Mifsud's work is "un- mistakably Maltese, yet the experiences it addresses res- onate with people far beyond our shores. Today's award rec- ognises his individual achieve- ments while strengthening the international profile of Maltese literature. It also serves as an inspiration to emerging writers working within Malta's linguis- tic and small-scale publishing landscape. It further highlights the importance of creating more opportunities for Mal- tese writers to reach readers abroad. This is consistent with the national cultural strategy we are prioritising, which rec- ognises culture as an essential part of Malta's identity and long-term national vision." Dalli said that awarding the European Homer Medal for Poetry and Art to Immanuel Mifsud is "a moment of pride for Malta and for our cultural sector. This prestigious recog- nition celebrates not only an extraordinary literary career but also the growing inter- national presence of Maltese literature. Immanuel has long demonstrated how stories rooted in our own experienc- es can resonate far beyond our country. His work continues to inspire readers through its au- thenticity, depth and humani- ty. At Arts Council Malta, we remain committed to support- ing artists in reaching new au- diences while creating valuable international opportunities. Achievements such as this re- inforce our belief that Maltese creativity holds an important place on the global cultural stage. We congratulate Im- manuel on this well-deserved honour and thank him for con- tinuing to raise the profile of Maltese literature internation- ally." Mifsud is one of Malta's lead- ing contemporary writers. His body of work includes poetry, novels, short stories, memoir, plays and literary criticism. He received the European Union Prize for Literature in 2011 for In the Name of the Father (and of the Son), and has won several National Book Prize awards in Malta for both poetry and prose. He said: "I am deeply hon- oured to receive this distinc- tion, which reflects not only appreciation for my work but, more specifically, recogni- tion beyond my own country. I believe every honour carries with it both an obligation and a responsibility. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my local publishers, Klabb Kotba Maltin/Midsea Books, to the various publishers abroad who have introduced my work to new audiences, and to the translators whose dedication has enabled my writing to cross linguistic and national bound- aries. An honour such as this also brings with it a responsi- bility towards my readers and towards the culture from which my work emerges. Finally, I wish to thank the Homer Med- al Chapter, Arts Council Malta and the Ministry for Culture, the Arts and National Heritage for today's ceremony." Mifsud was appointed a Member of the National Order of Merit in 2014 and became the first Maltese writer to be hosted by the Library of Con- gress in the United States. His work has been translat- ed and published around the world, and he has participated in literary festivals, readings and cultural programmes in numerous countries. Through its Internationalisa- tion Directorate, Arts Council Malta continues its efforts to create more opportunities for Maltese writers and literary professionals to build interna- tional connections, reach new audiences and participate in international publishing, trans- lation and cultural exchange. Immanuel Mifsud (centre) with he Minister for the Arts, Culture and National Heritage, Malcolm Paul Agius Galea (left), and the Executive Chairman of Arts Council Malta, Luke Dalli "I am deeply honoured to receive this distinction, which reflects not only appreciation for my work but, more specifically, recognition beyond my own country. I believe every honour carries with it both an obligation and a responsibility."