Awards
The Jenko Award
The Jenko Award is one of the most prestigious Slovene literary prizes. It is a professional award, presented by the Slovene Writers’ Association for the best poetry collection published in the past two years. The first recipient of the Jenko Award in 1986 was Niko Grafenauer.
Award recipients:
- 2024 – Miljana Cunta, Nekajkrat smo zašli, zdaj se vračamo (A Few Times We Strayed, Now We Are Returning) and Robert Simonišek, Vračanje k čistosti (Returning to Purity)
- 2023 – Blaž Božič, mleček, žbunje: grobovi v njem (Spurge, Thickets, Graves Inside)
- 2022 – Nataša Velikonja, Prostor sred križišč (A Space Amid Crossroads)
- 2021 – Nina Dragičević, To telo, pokončno (This Body, Upright)
- 2020 – Brane Mozetič, Sanje v drugem jeziku (Dreams in Another Language)
- 2019 – Kaja Teržan, Krog (Circle)
- 2018 – Tone Škrjanec, Dihaj (Breathe)
- 2017 – Veronika Dintinjana, V suhem doku (In Dry Dock)
- 2016 – Anja Golob, Didaskalije k dihanju (Stage Directions to Breathing)
- 2015 – Miklavž Komelj, Noč je abstraktnejša kot n (Night is More Abstract than n)
- 2014 – Anja Golob, Vesa v zgibi (Hangers in Folds)
- 2013 – Kristina Hočevar, Na zobeh aluminij, na ustnicah kreda (Aluminium on Teeth, Chalk on Lips)
- 2012 – Janez Ramoveš, Skuz oken strejlam kurente (Through the Window I Shoot at Kurents)
- 2011 – Primož Čučnik, Kot dar (As a Gift)
- 2010 – Ivo Svetina, Sfingin hlev (The Sphinx’s Stable)
- 2009 – Aleš Debeljak, Tihotapci (Smugglers)
- 2008 – Andrej Medved, Približevanja (Approaches)
- 2007 – Tomaž Šalamun, Sinji stolp (Azure Tower)
- 2006 – Josip Osti, Vse ljubezni so nenavadne (All Loves Are Unusual) and Miklavž Komelj, Hipodrom(Hippodrome)
- 2005 – Maja Vidmar, Prisotnosti (Presences)
- 2004 – Jože Snoj, Poslikava notranjščine (Interior Painting) and Ciril Bergles, Moj dnevnik (My Diary)
- 2003 – Brane Mozetič, Banalije (Banalities)
- 2002 – Erika Vouk, Opis slike (Description of a Painting)
- 2001 – Milan Jesih, Jambi (Iambs)
- 2000 – Uroš Zupan, Drevo in vrabec (The Tree and the Sparrow)
- 1999 – Niko Grafenauer, Odtisi (Imprints)
- 1998 – Dane Zajc, Dol dol (Down Down)
- 1997 – Peter Semolič, Hiša iz besed (A House of Words)
- 1996 – Iztok Osojnik, Klesani kamni (Carved Stones) and Alojz Ihan, Južno dekle (Southern Girl)
- 1995 – Boris A. Novak, Mojster nespečnosti (Master of Insomnia)
- 1994 – Svetlana Makarovič, Tisti čas (That Time)
- 1993 – Kajetan Kovič, Sibirski ciklus (Siberian Cycle)
- 1992 – Jure Detela, Pesmi (Poems)
- 1991 – Milan Jesih, Soneti (Sonnets)
- 1990 – Milan Dekleva, Odjedanje božjega (Eroding the Divine)
- 1989 – Aleš Debeljak, Slovar tišine (Dictionary of Silence)
- 1988 – Tomaž Šalamun, Mera časa (Measure of Time)
- 1987 – Veno Taufer, Vodenjaki (Water-bearers)
- 1986 – Niko Grafenauer, Palimpsesti (Palimpsests)
The Stritar Award
The Stritar Award is a prize of the Slovene Writers’ Association for literary criticism.
It was founded on the initiative of Vital Klabus and named by the poet Veno Taufer. It is intended for critics whose writing and insightful evaluation of literary works significantly contribute to the shaping of cultural life. In an age when the image of the steadfast traditional intellectual seems obsolete – as we live in a horizontal world overwhelmed by stimuli, where the physical dimension of human emotion and existence is often replaced by technical screen culture – critical thought devoted to literature and culture remains both invaluable and rewarding.
For those who dedicate their pens to thoughtful assessments of literature, the Stritar Award serves as recognition and encouragement to continue this essential work. Josip Stritar (1836–1923), with his famous Critical Letters (1867/68) and his interpretation of Prešeren’s poetry – which he recognized as of the highest quality and placed alongside the greatest achievements of European literature – remains a role model and source of inspiration for cosmopolitan criticism.
Today, when we often seem like “postmodern” nomads adrift in an informational network without centre or roots, it is crucial that young critics, through their encounters with literature, maintain an awareness of spiritual values, aesthetic expression, and human dignity conveyed through art. In the spirit of Stritar, the award also affirms the enduring experience of Slovene literature: that we belong to our small homelands, yet are citizens of a shared, planetary world.
— Dr. Igor Škamperle
Award recipients:
- 2025 – Majda Travnik Vode
- 2024 – Petra Koršič
- 2023 – Anja Radaljac
- 2022 – Muanis Sinanović
- 2021 – Robert Kuret
- 2020 – Veronika Šoster
- 2019 – Martina Potisk
- 2018 – Diana Pungeršič
- 2017 – Maja Šučur
- 2016 – Aljaž Krivec
- 2015 – Tanja Petrič
- 2014 – Aljoša Harlamov
- 2013 – Gabriela Babnik
- 2012 – Mojca Pišek
- 2011 – Ana Geršak
- 2010 – Gaja Kos
- 2009 – Goran Dekleva
- 2008 – Jelka Ciglenečki
- 2007 – Tina Kozin
- 2006 – Gorazd Trušnovec
- 2005 – Petra Pogorevc
- 2004 – Alenka Jovanovski
- 2003 – Lucija Stepančič
- 2002 – Urban Vovk
- 2001 – Vanesa Matajc
- 2000 – Ignacija Friedl
- 1999 – Petra Vidali
- 1998 – Mitja Čander
The Desetnica Award
The Desetnica Award is a prize for children’s and young adult literature, awarded by the Slovene Writers’ Association. Its purpose is to promote original Slovene children’s and YA fiction both within the Association and among the wider public.