Tómas Guðmundsson Literary Award
The Tómas Guðmundsson Literary Awards are presented annually in memory of the poet Tómas Guðmundsson for an unpublished poetry manuscript. A three-member selection committee reads all submitted manuscripts and selects the award recipient. The Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature office administers the awards.
A total of 111 manuscripts were received this year. The selection committee has completed its review and notified the author of the winning manuscript. All submitted manuscripts will be deleted in accordance with standard procedures and privacy protocols.
The award will be presented at Höfði in October, at which time the 2025 winner will be revealed.
How can I participate?
Manuscripts must be submitted electronically in PDF format on this website and will be accepted until May 1, 2025. The manuscripts are stored in a secure area and deleted two weeks after the selection committee reaches a decision. Author anonymity will continue to be guaranteed in this process, as submissions will be processed in an access-controlled system ensuring the selection committee receives manuscripts marked only with pseudonyms, just as before.
Who owns the publishing rights?
The publication rights for the winning manuscript are retained by the author or the publisher they choose to work with.
What are the awards?
The prize winner receives a monetary award along with the recognition itself. The prize is funded by Reykjavík City and is presented annually at the beginning of winter. In 2025, the amount of the Reward will be 1,000,000 Icelandic krónur.
How is the selection committee formed?
The Selection Committee for the Award is appointed by the Sports and Recreation Council for one-year at a time. It consists of three members: one designated by the Writers' Union of Iceland, another by the Association of Icelandic Publishers, and the third by Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature, which also appoints the chairperson.
If the Selection Committee unanimously agrees that none of the received works meet the required standards for the Award, the presentation of the Award may be canceled for that year.