Janklow & Nesbit UK

David Bellos Prize

THE DAVID BELLOS TRANSLATION PRIZE

“It is translation, more than speech itself, which provides incontrovertible evidence of the human capacity to think and to communicate thought. We should do more of it.”
― David Bellos, Is That a Fish in Your Ear? Translation and the Meaning of Everything

It is with great excitement that we are launching our first ever Translation Prize, which will be awarded to a superb translation of fiction into English.

We are eager to hear from every corner of the world; from the depths of Lake Baikal to the Peruvian mountains, from the Adriatic Sea to the Sossuvlei Dunes, and far beyond.

As an agency that has expanded across the Atlantic, we are fuelled by curiosity to explore other cultures, other thoughts, other histories. Our lists are in a constant state of growth; from nurturing young talents, to building already established writer’s careers and reviving literary Estates. We have always been keen to give a platform to works written in languages other than English. With this prize we hope to give more voice to stories from around the world, foster a global exchange of ideas and introduce English language readers to cultures and places they might not have even heard of.

We are dedicating this prize to David Bellos, who died at the end of last year. It is hard to talk about fiction in translation without mentioning David Bellos, who was the Meredith Howland Pyne Professor of French and Comparative Literature at Princeton University. His translations of Georges Perec and Ismail Kadare, to name just two, won many awards including the Man Booker International Prize and his contribution, in introducing the English-speaking world to the meaning of translation and the scale of its power, was immeasurable.

The David Bellos Translation Prize will be awarded to an excerpt of an adult fiction novel originally written and published in any language other than English. The winner will receive £2,000 in prize money and an offer of representation. Their translated project will be submitted to publishers in the UK and US by a Janklow & Nesbit UK agent.

Timeline
Please note the application window will open on March 10th 2026 and close on May 10th 2026. An official shortlist will be announced on July 1st 2026. The winner will be announced on August 31st 2026.

All submissions must be made via our application portal here. No submissions will be accepted by post. All applications must follow the Terms and Conditions mentioned below to be eligible.

Please do reach out to prize@janklow.co.uk if you have any questions regarding your application. We wish you all the best with your entry and look forward to journeying through the world of literature with you as our guide!

Terms and Conditions:

  • The prize is open to living, published authors around the world. 
  • The entries must be a translation into English from any other language in the world. All entries must be made by the translator.
  • Translators may be the author themselves.
  • Translators may submit only one piece of work.
  • Entries must be a partial translation into English of an adult fiction novel already published in the source country in the source language. If required, entrants must be able to provide the original text.
  • The author and translator must not have literary representation in the UK or US.
  • Entries must not have been published in full length in English before.
  • Entries must be fully human-written, with no use of AI-generated ideas, writing, or translation.
  • Entries must be the original work of the entrant.
  • We welcome submissions from all backgrounds, with a minimum age restriction of 18.
  • We reserve the right not to award the prize, or to make multiple offers of representation.
  • Entries after May 10th 2026 will not be accepted.
  • Entries that do not meet all the terms and conditions above will not be accepted.


How to Enter

All entries should be made via our platform. An incomplete submission will be automatically disqualified, as will any applications sent to our general Queries inbox.

Please follow the instructions carefully to submit your application:

Submission Requirements

  • Attach an English translation of an excerpt from your chosen novel of no more than 2,500 words. You may choose which part of the novel to translate.
  • Add a synopsis of the book of no more than 500 words written in English.
  • Add a cover letter of no more than 500 words written in English. The cover letter must include a pitch of the novel and the reasons why it will appeal to a global audience.
  • Add a biographical note of no more than 80 words, which should include a statement about your writing life, background, any writerly experience or influences.

After filling your application on our portal, a ‘Thank You’ confirmation of receipt will appear on the page. Please note that you will not receive a confirmation email.

Please note that unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted and no editorial feedback will be provided.

Naming the Attachment

Title your file in the following format: TITLEOFNOVEL_TRANSLATORNAME 

Example: If your name is Jane Doe and the novel you’re providing a translated excerpt for is titled " TRANSLATION LIT STORY", name your document as TRANSLATIONLITSTORY_JANEDOE. 

Your uploaded submission must be saved in this format for it to be accepted. 

Formatting Requirements

  • Document size: A4
  • Spacing: 1.15 spaced
  • Format: Word Document or PDF Format
  • Font: 12-point, using Times New Roman
  • Page numbering: Ensure all pages are numbered.
  • All text should appear in black on a white page.
Enter submission here