Novelist William Boyd has been named the winner of the 2026 Give a Book: The Pleasure of Reading Prize, which is sponsored by Bloomsbury Publishing and supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation. The annual prize recognizes an English-language author whose work brings pleasure to readers and celebrates the wider value of reading in public life. Boyd, the author of nineteen novels as well as short stories and screenplays, was selected by a panel of judges that included guest judge Esther Freud. The prize includes £10,000, shared between the winning author and a charitable Give a Book project chosen by the recipient, often supporting reading in prisons, schools, or other community settings. By linking literary recognition with direct support for reading access, the prize reflects Give a Book’s mission to use books to teach, inspire, and change lives. The Foundation’s support helps advance the role of literature in widening opportunity, strengthening imagination, and fostering a lifelong love of reading. Read the announcement here.
William Boyd Wins Give a Book: The Pleasure of Reading Prize 2026
Learn More
Discover the cutting-edge science we fund
Providing many of the world's best researchers, scientists, and universities with support, and funding to discover breakthroughs that solve humankind's greatest challenges.
See how we support great cultural institutions around the world
The Foundation contributes to renowned institutions that showcase the breadth of arts and culture, including performance, exhibition and education.
Visit the Blavatnik Archive
The Blavatnik Archive is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to preserving and disseminating materials that contribute to the study of 20th-century Jewish and world history, with a special emphasis on World War I, World War II, and Soviet Russia.