2025 Jhalak Prize Longlist Announced with New Poetry Award

The Jhalak Prize has unveiled its longlist for 2025, now featuring an exciting addition: a dedicated award for poetry. Celebrating its ninth year, the prize recognizes authors of colour whose works have been published in the UK and Ireland.

Expanding Horizons for Poets

This year marks a significant expansion for the Jhalak Prizes, with three distinct categories: the Jhalak Prose Prize, the newly introduced Jhalak Poetry Prize, and the Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize. This addition aims to honor the unique voices and narratives emerging in the poetry landscape.

Founders and Judges Weigh In

Sunny Singh, the founder of the Jhalak Prize, expressed enthusiasm for the quality of work being produced by writers of colour. Singh remarked, “In the ninth year of the Jhalak Prize awards, the quality of work being produced by writers of colour in Britain and Ireland is extraordinary.”

The rigorous judging process for each category was not without its challenges, as the panel sought to select only 12 exceptional books for each longlist. Judges noted the heartbreaking task of leaving out numerous worthy contenders, emphasizing that the selected works tackle the realities of our lives while also embodying themes of love, hope, and resilience.

Judging Panels and Their Insights

The inaugural Jhalak Poetry Prize judging panel, comprised of prominent poets Jason Allen-Paisant, Malika Booker, and Will Harris, highlighted the importance of visibility for writers of colour. Harris stated, “This longlist demands to be looked at. These are 12 poetry books by writers of colour published at a time when fewer than 1% of students at GCSE level study a book by a writer of colour.” He noted the innovative voices presenting valuable perspectives through their works.

For the Jhalak Prose Prize, the judging panel includes authors Sareeta Domingo, Taran N Khan, and 2024 winner Yepoka Yeebo. Yeebo reflected on the difficult selection process, stating, “Deciding on a longlist was genuinely agonising. British writers and poets are doing mesmerisingly good work.” She emphasized the transformative impact of this year’s submissions on her view of British literature.

The Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize judging panel features authors Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Hiba Noor Khan, and Alom Shaha. Abdel-Magied expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “Being a judge for the Jhalak Prize is a humbling responsibility… to spend time with such a range of delightful, moving and finely drawn creations has been a true highlight.”

Art and Community Engagement

Each year, the Jhalak Prize includes a unique artistic element, commissioning an artist of colour through the Jhalak Art Residency to create a trophy for the winners. For 2025, the selected artists are Khaver Idrees for the Poetry Prize, Ketna Patel for the Prose Prize, and Lucy Farfort for the Children’s & YA Prize.

Support and Promotion

The Jhalak Prize further strengthens its commitment to accessibility through a partnership with National Book Tokens, collaborating with independent bookshops across the country to reach diverse reading communities. This initiative aims to ensure that the voices acknowledged through the prize resonate widely, inspiring a growing audience