Pia Tafdrup receives the Prins Henrik Prize 2026

The Prince Henrik Prize is given as a token of honour to a contemporary and established poet who, through her/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.

Pia Tafdrup 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 Julie Sten-Knudsen, poet Ditte Steensballe and Professor Peter Stein Larsen.

In their nomination speech the jury states:

“Pia Tafdrup is awarded the Prince Henrik Prize 2026 for having enriched Danish literature over five decades with highly qualified, original and varied poetry that maps countless aspects of human existence. With her suggestive, perceptive and precise language and her ability to poetically grapple with the big questions of existence, Pia Tafdrup has given us poems that are both beautiful, personal and universally recognisable."

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).

Congratulations to Pia Tafdrup!

Photos by Tobias Scavenius