Terms and Conditions

The following provisions govern the 2026 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing awarded by Stanford University Libraries.

The Saroyan Prize Committee will be appointed by the Stanford University Librarian in consultation with the President of the Saroyan Foundation, and will be responsible for all aspects of the administration of the Saroyan Prize.
The Stanford University Librarian in consultation with the President of the Saroyan Foundation, will appoint a team of no fewer than three Nominating Judges for each Saroyan Prize to be awarded.
Two prizes of $5,000 will be awarded, one each in fiction and non-fiction. Poetry and other literary forms will not be considered.
Only works published in book form between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025, available for individual purchase by the general public, and primarily in English are eligible for the 2026 Saroyan Prize.
Works by members of The Saroyan Prize Committee, members or officers of the William Saroyan Foundation, or previous winners are not eligible for the 2026 Saroyan Prize.
Only complete entries received by Stanford University Libraries no later than January 30, 2026 will be considered.

A complete entry includes:
- A completed entry form, available here.
- Submit one of the following:
  - Hard copy submissions:
    - Five (5) copies of the publication. The books must be in published form, new copies and bound. Manuscript proofs will not be accepted.
  - E-book submissions:
    - An electronic file of the book will be accepted only if the book is not available in hard copy form. Electronic files sent with watermarks will not be accepted.
    - Email a PDF file of the book here sonialee@stanford.edu.
- A $50 non-refundable entry fee. Payment may be made using Visa, MasterCard or American Express via the entry form, or by check. Checks must be made payable to Stanford University and indicate the title(s) of book(s) being submitted. Multiple entries may be paid with one check.
Completed entries should be sent to:
Administrator of the Saroyan Prize
Stanford University Libraries
557 Escondido Mall, Suite 102
Stanford, CA 94305
The Saroyan Prize Committee will assemble and manage a team of Stanford University alumni and Stanford University Libraries staff to perform an initial screening of all entries.
The Nominating Judges for each Saroyan Prize will review the screened entries, and put forward to the Stanford University Librarian a list of not less than three and not more than five Finalist works for each Prize.
The winner of each Prize will be selected by the Stanford University Librarian, in consultation with the President of the William Saroyan Foundation, and based on the recommendations of the Nominating Judges. However, the University Librarian has the authority in extraordinary circumstances to award the Prize to any qualified entry.
Nothing in this plan shall be deemed to limit in any way the authority and control of The Saroyan Writing Prize Committee.
Finalists and prizewinners of the Prize will be listed permanently at this website.
Terms and conditions subject to change without notice.