The Fosse Lecture and the Fosse Prize for Translators
The Fosse Lecture explores literature as an art form, presenting perspectives to inspire and engage the international literary community today. Alongside it, the Fosse Prize for Translators celebrates those who bring Norwegian literature to readers around the world. These initiatives aim to build a lasting cultural tradition and an intellectual meeting point in Norway and beyond.
The speaker of the Fosse Lecture 2026 and the winner of the Fosse Prize for Translators 2026 will be announced on the 21st of January 2026.
An annual tribute to Jon Fosse
In December 2023, it was announced that the Norwegian government would honour the Nobel Prize in Literature winner Jon Fosse by establishing an annual Fosse Lecture and a Fosse Prize for translators, organized by the National Library of Norway. The first Fosse lecture was held in April 2025 by French philosopher and theologian, Jean-Luc Marion, with the Royal Palace in Oslo serving as host. The first winner of the Fosse Prize for Translators was German translator Hinrich-Schmidt Henkel.
In line with Fosse’s work, the Fosse Lecture aims to bring literature as an art form to the foreground of public discourse around the world. The lecture is held every April by an international author, playwright, academic, or intellectual who has made a significant contribution to the understanding or dissemination of literature in their country and beyond.
The Fosse Prize for Translators, awarded in collaboration with NORLA, recognizes a translator who has made an outstanding contribution to bringing Norwegian literature into other languages. With a prize sum of NOK 500,000, it is the largest award of its kind, celebrating those who dedicate their work to the Norwegian language and make Norwegian literature accessible to readers worldwide.
The Fosse Advisory Board
The National Library and Jon Fosse have established a Fosse Advisory Board, whose members serve two-year terms. The Fosse Advisory Board provides guidance, insights and suggestions throughout the speaker selection process. The current Fosse Advisory Board is Scandinavian and consists of: Live Lundh (NO), Eirik Vassenden (NO), Aris Fioretos (SE), Sara Abdollahi (SE), and Mads Rosendal Thomsen (DK).
The Fosse Lecture and Fosse Prize for Translators 2025
On Thursday, 24th of April 2025, the inaugural Fosse Lecture took place at the Royal Palace in Oslo. The French philosopher Jean-Luc Marion delivered the newly written lecture Creation, before Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit together with Margit Walsø, Director of NORLA, presented the newly established Fosse Prize for Translators to the German translator Hinrich Schmidt-Henkel. The Norwegian musician and composer Anja Lauvdal performed a new work inspired by Marion’s text, and National Librarian Aslak Sira Myhre guided the proceedings.
Jon Fosse on the Speaker and Prize Winner 2025
Nobel Prize winner in literature Jon Fosse was very pleased with both the speaker and the prize winner for 2025. Speaker Jean-Luc Marion (b. 1946) has devoted his career to the study of, among other things, phenomenology and theology. Marion spoke about literature from his own perspective during the Fosse Lecture 2025.
«He creates a very solid space for literature when it comes to understanding and experiencing life, or learning something – about love, for example, and about God, for that matter,» Jon Fosse said about Marion.
The Fosse Prize for Translators aims to honour the art of translation and highlight the important role translators play in bringing Norwegian literature to the world. Prize winner Hinrich Schmidt-Henkel has since 1987 translated literature from Norwegian, Danish, French, and Italian into German, including works by Jon Fosse, Tarjei Vesaas, Henrik Ibsen, Cecilie Løveid, and Ruth Lillegraven.
«Germany has traditionally been the most important country for translated Norwegian literature, and for many years Hinrich has been the most important German translator, so I think this is a completely obvious choice,» Fosse said.
Subtitles available in Norwegian and English.
Subtitles available in Norwegian, German, and English.
Subtitles available in Norwegian and English.
Watch the event and other related programs here:
Do you have questions about the Fosse Lecture and/or the Fosse Prize?
Please contact Martine Jonsrud, Head of the Fosse Lecture and Fosse Prize for Translators, or Nina Bræin, Head of Press.
Martine Jonsrud
Head of the Fosse Lecture and Fosse Prize for Translators
martine.jonsrud@nb.no
(+47) 45 11 16 35
Nina Bræin
Head of Press | National Library of Norway
nina.brain@nb.no
(+47) 95 15 09 12