American poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney is announced as the winner of the 2026 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize. The £20,000 award, which recognizes literary talent from writers aged 39 and under, is presented at a ceremony in Swansea, Wales—Dylan Thomas’s birthplace. Debevec-McKenney, who is based in Decatur, receives the prize for her debut poetry collection, titled Joy Is My Middle Name (also reported as Joy is My Middle Name). Multiple outlets describe the collection as addressing themes including race, addiction, and womanhood, focusing on experiences and challenges the poet navigates. The Dylan Thomas Prize is intended to spotlight emerging writers and honour Dylan Thomas, who died at the age of 39. The announcement makes Debevec-McKenney the latest recipient of the annual prize, which is administered through Swansea University.
Sasha Debevec-McKenney wins 2026 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize
American poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney is announced as the winner of the 2026 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize. The £20,000 award, which recognizes literary talent from writers aged 39 and under, i...
- Sasha Debevec-McKenney is named the winner of the 2026 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize.
- The prize is worth £20,000 and is awarded to writers aged 39 or under.
- The award is announced at a ceremony in Swansea, Wales, where Dylan Thomas was born.
- Debеvec-McKenney wins for her debut poetry collection, Joy Is My Middle Name.
- Sources describe the collection as exploring themes including race, addiction, and womanhood.
Today in a ceremony at Swansea, Decatur-based American poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney was announced as the winner of this year’s £20,000 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize, which celebrates literary talent in writers under 40, for her debut collection Joy is My
3 months agoThe £20,000 award for writers aged 39 or under goes to Joy Is My Middle Name, a collection about navigating race, addiction and womanhoodA debut poetry collection with themes including race, addiction and womanhood has won this year’s Swansea University Dylan Thomas prize.American poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney took home the £20,000 prize – awarded to writers aged 39 or under in honour of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who died at that age – for her debut collection Joy Is My Middle Name. She was announced as the winner at a ceremony in Swansea, Thomas’s birthplace. Continue reading...
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