Peter Laugesen receives the Prince Henrik Prize 2025

The Prince Henrik Prize is given as a token of honour to a contemporary and established poet who, through his work, has made a significant contribution to Danish poetry. The purpose of the prize is to focus specifically on this poet's work and on the importance of poetry for Danish literature.

Peter Laugesen has been selected as the prize winner by an independent jury appointed by the two writers' associations, the Dansk Forfatterforening (Danish Writers' Association) and the Danske Skønlitterære Forfattere (Danish Fiction Writers). The jury consists of poet and associate professor Martin Glaz Serup, poet and translator René Jean Jensen, and poet Ditte Steensballe. In their nomination speech the jury states:

“Peter Laugesen is awarded the Prince Henrik Prize 2025 for his original, uniquely insistent and wild poetry, for almost six decades of generous authorship, that besides poetry includes songs, translations and art criticism. Peter Laugesen's voice has been unique throughout the years and is constantly evolving, just as his contribution to Danish literature is indispensable."

The Prince Henrik Prize is sponsored by AVK Holding, and the bronze statuette of Prince Henrik's sculpture Fabeldyr is donated by the Royal House. The prize is awarded in collaboration with the Danske Skønlitterære Forfattere (Danish Fiction Writers) and Dansk Forfatterforening (Danish Writers' Association).

Photos by Kim Wendt.