Translate Ukraine 2026: UBI opened program applications

The Ukrainian Book Institute announced the launch of Translate Ukraine 2026, a program to support the translation of Ukrainian literature into other languages. The program seeks to promote Ukrainian books internationally, enhance Ukraine’s presence in the global cultural sphere, and support publishers planning to translate, publish, and distribute works by Ukrainian authors.

For participation in the competitive selection, UBI will consider projects involving translations of contemporary Ukrainian literature or works in the public domain:

• written in Ukrainian;
• published by a Ukrainian publisher/publishers as of the application date;
• to be completed and published by the end of 2026;
• to be published with the print run of at least 300 copies. 

Applications for projects implemented under previous programs will not be considered if: 

• translations of Ukrainian literary works have already been translated and published in a particular foreign language in the relevant country;
• translations created (or to be created) via a pivot language. 

The applications for the competitive selection shall not be accepted from publishers:

• having violated their contractual obligations to the Institute in the previous year;
• whose ultimate beneficial owners are citizens of the aggressor state, whose founders and/or ultimate beneficial owners have been subject to sanctions according to the Law of Ukraine “On Sanctions.” 

Priority of the Translate Ukraine 2026 program are:

• classical literature;
• literature by military authors;
• literature on the topic of Russia’s war against Ukraine;
• literature on the topic of Ukrainian history and culture.

The Expert Council assesses projects based on the criteria defined in the Regulations on the Expert Council for the selection of projects for translation of Ukrainian literature into other languages:

1.Literary quality of the project

Significance of the work based on the artistic quality of the text, idea, theme, and public resonance;

Literary awards received in Ukraine and abroad;

Translations of the work into other languages.

2.Competence of the publisher

Catalog on the Publisher’s website;

Ability to promote the translation;

Ability to carry out the distribution of the translation.

3.Competence of the translator

Proficiency of the translator in the language into which the work shall be translated;

Experience in translation, including from other languages;

Number of published translations from Ukrainian;

Translator’s awards and prizes. 

As part of its support for the project, the UBI reimburses the publishers’ expenses for:

• Acquisition of rights to translate a work of Ukrainian literature into another language and/or payment of royalties for their use;
• Creation of an intellectual property object that is the translation of a work of Ukrainian literature into another language;
• Publication of a work of Ukrainian literature in other languages, including editorial processing, preparation of the original layout, and creation of an electronic edition.

The maximum amount of expenses to be reimbursed by the Institute to the publisher after project implementation is EUR 8,000 or the equivalent in the national currency of Ukraine — UAH.

The Institute shall accept applications from January 6 to February 9, 2026.

Overdue applications submitted after the date, as stipulated in the announcement, shall not be considered. 

Read more under the link.

RELATED: 13 Ukrainian books to be translated into English this year as part of the Translate Ukraine Program

Copy editing: Terra Friedman King