2026 Erdal Öz Literature Awards Find Their Winners
Within the scope of this year's Erdal Öz Literature Awards, Adnan Özyalçıner was deemed worthy of the Honorary Award, Polat Özlüoğlu of the Novel Award, and Nesimi Yetik of the First Story Book Award.
The winners of the 2026 Erdal Öz Literature Awards have been finalized. While the Honorary Award was presented to Adnan Özyalçıner, the awards in the novel and first story categories also found their recipients.
Honorary Award Goes to Adnan Özyalçıner
Adnan Özyalçıner, the master pen of Turkish literature and the 1950 Generation, was deemed worthy of the 2026 Honorary Award.
The selection committee, consisting of Metin Celâl, Turgay Fişekçi, and Ayşe Sarısayın, emphasized the author's labor spanning over sixty years and his contributions to the world of short stories in its award rationale.
Novel and First Story Book Awards
Polat Özlüoğlu's novel titled Kalbin Durduğu Bütün Zamanlar won the 2026 Erdal Öz Novel Award. Addressing social fractures, the work deals with the traces of the September 12, 1980 coup through four individuals.
The Erdal Öz First Story Book Award, given for the first time this year, was awarded to Nesimi Yetik's book Ben ve Gulyabani, and the work was deemed worthy of the award by the jury.
Award Ceremony and Other Developments
The winning names will receive their awards at an official ceremony to be held at Dada Salon on Monday, October 26, 2026.
In addition, Ferdi Yaman won the 2026 Turgut Özakman First Novel Competition with his manuscript titled Delimsirek.