Aspen Words Literary Prize Ceremony
2025-04-23 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
WINNER ANNOUNCED: APRIL 23
at the Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016
Program runs: 6:30-7:30 p.m. ET
Moderated by Bilal Qureshi
JOIN US!
General Admission (FREE): Donation Appreciated
Your ticket includes:
– First come, first served seating at the ceremony
– Access to the wine and hors d’oeuvres reception following the ceremony
Register here
Livestream Access (FREE): Donation Appreciated
Access includes:
-A link to view the event in real-time 4:30-5:30 p.m. MT/6:30-7:30 p.m. ET
Register here
VIP Ticket & Tour
Your ticket includes:
– Docent tour of the secrets and rarities of the Morgan Library & Museum
– A prosecco toast
– Premium reserved seating for the ceremony
– Access to the wine and hors d’oeuvres reception following the ceremony
– A copy of a finalist book
If you select a VIP ticket, please arrive at the Morgan by 5:15 p.m. ET.
Purchase tickets here
Livestream Party at Pitkin County Library (FREE): Donation Appreciated
Your ticket includes:
– Real-time viewing party of the Aspen Words Literary Prize Ceremony 4:30-5:30 MT
-Light refreshments and mingling
Register to attend the livestream party here!

The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”) and Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
This event is moderated by Bilal Qureshi. Bilal Qureshi is an independent essayist, broadcaster and critic. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, NPR, The New York Times, Foreign Policy and the Criterion Collection. He wrote the column “Elsewhere” for the journal Film Quarterly from 2016 – 2023. Bilal’s radio reporting has aired across NPR’s flagship news magazines and podcasts – and on the “BBC Arts Hour”.  Bilal graduated with high distinction from the University of Virginia in 2004 and earned an M.S. in Broadcasting from the Columbia School of Journalism in 2007. He’s a recipient of the USC Getty Fellowship for Arts Journalism, the Robert Bosch Fellowship, and has served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prize for Audio and Criticism. Bilal was born in Kohat, Pakistan, grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and currently divides his time between Accra and Los Angeles.

Aspen Words Literary Prize Longlist Announced November 13
2025-11-13 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver)
Aspen Words will announce the longlist for the Aspen Words Literary Prize on November 13.
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”), Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”) and Tommy Orange (2025 for “Wandering Stars”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
Learn more about the prize

Aspen Words Literary Prize Shortlist Announced March 11
2026-03-11 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver)
Aspen Words will announce the shortlist for the Aspen Words Literary Prize on March 11.
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”), Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”) and Tommy Orange (2025 for “Wandering Stars”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
Learn more about the prize
