Aleksandrs Barons and Ieva Lešinska Win Dzejas Dienas 2026 Awards at National Library
At the closing event of the main program for the Dzejas dienas 2026 festival held at the National Library of Latvia on September 12, organizers announced this year’s top poetry and translation prize winners.
The Dzejas dienas award for original poetry went to Aleksandrs Barons for his collection Vientulības labirints, published by Neputns. In the translation category, the prize was awarded to Ieva Lešinska for her translation of Seamus Heaney’s collection 100 dzejoļi, also released by Neputns. Meanwhile, the Domuzīme poetry magazine award went to Lāsma Olte for her collection jums gaisma netraucē?, published by Neputns.
Critical Reception of the Winning Original Poetry Collection
Poet Māra Ulme praised Aleksandrs Barons for his debut work, noting that he introduces an elaborate lyrical self, diverse text layering, and expressive lyricism with vigor and playfulness. According to Ulme, Barons’s protagonist acts as a typical poet who loves and hurts, yet fearlessly admits a desire for recognition, understanding, and closeness.
The Latvian Writers’ Union received 29 total books for consideration this year, comprising 17 original poetry collections and 12 translation collections. Nominees in the poetry category included Elīna Vendija Rībena for Piena mugurkauls (Strāva), Agnese Rutkēviča for Vientulības drošības noteikumi (Aminori), and Kārlis Vērdiņš for Nekas (Neputns).
Translating Seamus Heaney and Reimagining Domestic Themes
Poet and translator Guntars Godiņš highlighted the intense research required for Seamus Heaney’s poetry due to its Irish nature, traditions, and historical references. Godiņš stated that Ieva Lešinska successfully preserved semantic, intonational, and phonetic aspects through onomatopoeia, alliteration, and assonance, granting readers a unique poetic experience.
In the translation category, Raimonds Ķirķis was also nominated for his rendition of Forough Farrokhzad’s book Atdzimusi (Neputns). The evaluation panel consisted of Guntars Godiņš, Māra Ulme, Ērika Bērziņa, and Kristīne Ilziņa.
Regarding the Domuzīme magazine prize, jury member and writer Andra Manfelde remarked that Lāsma Olte dismantles heavy societal concepts like Kinder, Küche, Kirche and traditional domestic roles like lego blocks, rearranging them so that winged women line up in formation.
About the Domuzīme Prize and Festival Schedule
The Domuzīme magazine has awarded its poetry prize since 2021. This year’s 12 submitted collections also yielded nominations for Sintija Kampānes-Štelmahere’s dārzs and Ivar Šteinbergs’s Lielais sprādziens, both published by the Punctum Magazine Support Association. The 2026 jury featured Ingmāra Balode, Rudīte Kalpiņa, Andra Manfelde, and Jānis Tomašs. The prize symbol is a silver lapel pin shaped like a page featuring an aster flower and a gold-plated domuzīme, crafted by jewelry artist Una Mikuda.
Running under the motto “Dzeja dzied!” (Poetry Sings!), the international poetry festival took place from August 28 to September 12. While the main program concluded with the award ceremony, poetry events continue across Latvia until early October.
Did you know?
The Domuzīme poetry prize features a distinctive physical symbol: a silver lapel pin designed by jewelry artist Una Mikuda that depicts a book page adorned with an aster flower and a gold-plated domuzīme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Dzejas dienas 2026 award for original poetry?
Aleksandrs Barons won the original poetry prize for his collection Vientulības labirints, published by Neputns.
When did the Dzejas dienas 2026 festival take place?
The international festival ran from August 28 to September 12, 2026, with the main program concluding at the National Library of Latvia.
Who organizes the Dzejas dienas awards?
The Latvian Writers’ Union awards the Dzejas dienas prizes to the year’s best original poetry and translation collections.
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