Saroyan Prize
"In the time of your life, live–so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it." –William Saroyan
Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation jointly award the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, a biennial competition for newly-published books. The prize commemorates the life, legacy and intentions of William Saroyan - author, artist, dramatist, composer - and is intended to encourage new or emerging writers, rather than to recognize established literary figures.
The entry period for the 2026 Saroyan Prize closed on January 30, 2026. The shortlist will be announced in late spring and the winners will be announced in late summer/early fall. We will begin accepting submissions for the 2028 Prize (for books published in 2026 and 2027) in late fall 2026.
