The Italian Pisa Prize for Translated Literature has announced the shortlist for its 2026 translation awards, presented by the Pisa Book Festival to the best literary translations published during the year.

Three works selected by the jury have qualified for the sixth edition, including the Italian translation of "Hot Maroc" by Moroccan novelist Yassin Adnan, translated by Antonino d'Esposito.

The novel competes with two prominent works in contemporary world literature: "Ghost Town" by Taiwanese writer Kevin Chen, translated from Chinese into Italian by Silvia Pozzi, and "The Impossible Return" by Belgian writer Amélie Nothomb, translated from French into Italian by Isabella Mazzetti.

"Hot Maroc" had previously been longlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, its French translation was shortlisted for the Prix Caméléon, and its English translation was shortlisted for the Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation. The Italian translation itself was also shortlisted for the Premio Acerbi immediately after its publication in 2025.

"Hot Maroc" paints a panoramic portrait of contemporary Morocco through the story of a shy, timid young man who transforms into a fierce, powerful online persona after being caught in the social media vortex, obsessively engaging in fabricating fake news, spreading rumors, and weaving electronic intrigues.

The novel blends social satire and cultural critique, raising questions about power, media, and the transformations brought by technology in society, in a work that addresses the impact of digital space on public life.

"Ghost Town," translated from Chinese, is one of the most notable Asian works published in recent years, garnering extensive critical attention and being translated into several languages. Set in a rural town in Taiwan, it explores issues of memory, family, identity, and social change through a multi-voice narrative structure, blending realism and symbolism while drawing on elements of Taiwanese folk heritage.

Belgian writer Amélie Nothomb, one of Europe's most prominent literary voices, competes with her novel "The Impossible Return" (L'Impossible retour).

This work takes on an almost autobiographical tone, as it recounts the author's journey to Japan, the country where she spent her childhood, reflecting on the meaning of memory, nostalgia, and the impossibility of reclaiming the past. The novel is distinguished by its dense language and calm style, making the idea of return a gateway to contemplating time, identity, and belonging.

The Pisa Book Translation Awards have become a milestone in Italian publishing, thanks to the prestige of its juries and the growing quality of the project. It is the only Italian literary competition open to independent publishers.

This year's shortlist reflects geographical, cultural, and linguistic diversity, bringing together Arabic, Asian, and European literature, and underscores the growing importance of translated literature in the Italian cultural landscape.

The awards ceremony will be held on October 3, 2026, at the Palazzo Sapienza in Pisa, as part of the Pisa Book Festival, with the winning translators and jury members in attendance. Lifetime achievement awards will also be presented on this occasion, in a celebration that makes the historic city a hub for contemporary translated literature in Europe.