The International Booker Prize 2026 has been awarded to Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated from Mandarin Chinese by Lin King, marking a historic first for Taiwanese and Taiwanese-American winners. At the ceremony held on May 19 at Tate Modern's Turbine Hall, the duo accepted the £50,000 prize, split equally between author and translator.
A Landmark Win for Translated Fiction
This victory is the second consecutive year that independent publisher And Other Stories has claimed the prize, following their 2025 win with Heart Lamp. Chair of judges Natasha Brown praised the novel as “a love letter to translation” that succeeds both as a romance and an incisive postcolonial novel.
Author and Translator on Their Collaboration
Yáng Shuāng-zǐ credited translator Lin King, stating: “I honestly had nothing to do with us winning with this book. It's not about me. I could not have won without Lin translating the book.” Lin emphasized the power of translation, saying: “No story is too niche, too culturally or linguistically niche to be told to a wide audience.”
The Novel's Postcolonial Themes
Set in 1930s Taiwan, the story follows Aoyama, a Japanese writer with a “monstrous appetite” who arrives as a coloniser. Through her translator Chi-chan, she observes Taiwanese culture with an air of superiority, unaware of the locals' condescension. A pivotal moment occurs when official Mishima challenges her, accusing her of “intellectual arrogance” for using personal taste to justify colonialism.
Yáng explained the importance of portraying a “friendly coloniser” with blind spots, while Lin noted that Taiwan's complex history—under Japanese rule, then martial law under the ROC, and ongoing pressure from the PRC—shapes the narrative. The book is banned in China, but Lin shared that readers from the PRC have accessed it through English editions or overseas Mandarin bookstores.
Translation as Resistance
Lin described translation into English as an empowering tool: “Using English now as a tool to counter what it has done in terms of colonialism.” She added that translated fiction asks readers for attention and willingness to learn, rather than burdening them with interpretation. The win highlights the growing appetite for diverse stories, bolstered by independent publishers willing to take risks on niche works.
Yáng concluded: “We represent a new generation that has the liberty to express ourselves fully and write about topics that people in the past would not dare.”
