Prémio Camões · 2025 · Winner
Prémio Camões
2025 Winner
Complete History
About the Prémio Camões
The Prémio Camões is the most prestigious literary prize in the Portuguese-speaking world, awarded annually since 1989 for a lifetime body of work written in Portuguese. Jointly administered by the Portuguese Ministry of Culture and the Brazilian National Library Foundation (Fundação Biblioteca Nacional), the prize honors writers from any of the Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP) — Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Timor-Leste, and Equatorial Guinea. Named after the poet Luís de Camões, author of the epic Os Lusíadas, it carries a prize of €100,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The Prémio Camões is the highest literary honor in the Portuguese-speaking world, awarded annually since 1989 for a writer's lifetime contribution to literature in the Portuguese language.
- Any writer from a Portuguese-speaking country (the CPLP community: Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Timor-Leste, and Equatorial Guinea) who has produced a significant body of work in Portuguese is eligible.
- The prize is jointly administered by Portugal's Ministry of Culture and Brazil's National Library Foundation (Fundação Biblioteca Nacional), reflecting its Luso-Brazilian co-sponsorship.
- The Prémio Camões carries a prize of €100,000 (approximately $108,000 USD), making it one of the most valuable literary prizes in the Portuguese-speaking world.
- Luís de Camões (c. 1524–1580) is the most celebrated poet in the Portuguese language, best known for the epic poem Os Lusíadas (1572), which chronicles Vasco da Gama's voyage to India. He is considered the Portuguese equivalent of Shakespeare or Dante.
- Yes. Like the Premio Cervantes, the Prémio Camões recognizes a writer's entire career and body of work, not a single publication.
- A selection jury composed of representatives from Portugal and Brazil, along with literary experts, evaluates nominated writers and presents a recommendation to both ministries.
- In most years, yes, but there have been occasional delays in the announcement or ceremony due to administrative and political factors between the co-sponsoring governments.
- The prize has increasingly recognized writers from African Portuguese-speaking countries such as Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde, playing an important role in elevating and internationalizing African Lusophone literature.