The Books Council of Wales is launching a year of celebrations in 2026 as the Tir na n-Og Awards turn 50.

The Tir na n-Og Awards are the oldest awards for children’s literature in Wales. Since 1976 they have celebrated the talents and creativity of authors and illustrators who either create original works in Welsh, or who write about authentically Welsh themes or backgrounds through the medium of English.

Bethan Jones, Head of the Children’s Books and Reading Promotion Department said: “We have a fantastic year planned to celebrate this special birthday for the Tir na n-Og Awards. The 2026 English- and Welsh-language Awards will be held over the spring and summer, and we have a jam-packed calendar of activities and events planned so that readers of all ages can join us to celebrate 50 years of the very best books for children and young people.

 

“The judging panels have already met to consider the books that have been nominated and it’s amazing to see so many fantastic books eligible for the awards this year. We can’t wait to reveal the shortlists in the spring and enjoy the celebrations with schools, bookshops, libraries and readers over the coming year.”

The Tir na n-Og Awards are held every year by the Books Council of Wales, supported by CILIP Cymru Wales.

The members of the judging panels have been busy over recent months reading the books nominated for the awards. Led by Karen Gemma Brewer, Chair of the English-language panel, and Rhys Dilwyn Jenkins, Chair of the Welsh-language panel, eight judges have come together to discuss the nominations.  Meet the judging panels on the Books Council’s website. 2026 Judging Panels | Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru

The awards have three categories: Welsh-language Primary (age 4–11), Welsh-language Secondary (age 11–18) and English-language book with an authentic Welsh dimension (primary or secondary, age 4–18).

The shortlists will be announced in the spring and more information on the Tir na n-Og Awards and the year of celebrations can be found on the Books Council of Wales website books.wales.

The Books Council of Wales has received £350,000 from Welsh Government through Creative Wales as part of the £2.5million additional funding announced in December 2025 to support the creative industries.

£335,000 has been distributed directly to book and magazine publishers, who received an Essential Support Grant based on their publishing programme. A further £15,000 will be used to support the Books Council’s Young People’s Panel to create more reading engagement content for young people.

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales said: “We are very grateful to Welsh Government for this much-needed additional funding. It has enabled us to create the Essential Support Grants, through which £335,000 of this one-off funding has been paid directly to publishers to help them overcome this very difficult period, build some resilience within the sector and boost book sales.

 

“We’ve also secured funding for our talented and creative Young People’s Panel to promote more books from Wales, in Welsh and English. It’s really exciting to be able to pass the reins to the Panel, who will develop digital content to reach other young readers, celebrating books from Wales and sharing them with the world.”

Minister for Creative, Jack Sargeant, said: “The publishing industry is a vital part of Wales’s creative story and we’re hugely proud of the talent that exists across the sector. We remain committed to preserving this important industry, whilst recognising the financial challenges facing the Books Council and the sector at this time.

 

“From authors, to illustrators, to editors – our publishers consistently showcase Welsh voices on the global stage. Not only is the industry an important cultural and economic driver for Wales, but through initiatives like the Young People’s Panel, we are nurturing the next generation of readers and creators, ensuring Wales continues to be a place where literature thrives.

 

“We are continuing to support publishers, celebrate our storytellers, and encourage the creation of high-quality books that can stand tall among other nations.”