American poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney has been awarded the 2026 Dylan Thomas Prize, the world's largest literary award for young writers, for her debut collection Joy Is My Middle Name. The £20,000 prize was presented at a ceremony in Swansea on International Dylan Thomas Day.
A Unanimous Decision
The judging panel, chaired by Nigerian British author Irenosen Okojie, selected Debevec-McKenney's work unanimously. They described the collection as an energising, exuberant, and robust work that condenses massive thematic ideas into a joy to read.
Exploring Addiction and Pop Culture
Joy Is My Middle Name documents the journey through one's twenties into thirty, navigating sex, race, womanhood, addiction, sobriety, consumerism, and pop culture. Okojie called it "an exuberant, blistering collection full of life, humour and ideas" and praised Debevec-McKenney as a "ferociously gifted talent" whose voice feels like an antidote to tricky times.
About the Prize
Named after Swansea-born poet Dylan Thomas, the prize celebrates his intense creativity and supports writers aged 39 or under. Debevec-McKenney beat a shortlist including Harriet Armstrong, Colwill Brown, Suzannah V. Evans, Seán Hewitt, and Derek Owusu. The judging panel also included Joe Dunthorne, Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe, Prajwal Parajuly, and Eley Williams.
A Legacy of Winners
Debevec-McKenney joins previous winners such as Yasmin Zaher, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Arinze Ifeakandu, Patricia Lockwood, and Max Porter. Her victory cements her status as a significant new voice in contemporary poetry, channelling the spirit of Dylan Thomas while addressing modern anxieties.
