Polari Prize · 2024 · Winner
The Gallopers
Jon RansomFor its lyrical, darkly funny portrait of queer life and desire on a 1950s travelling funfair — Book of the Year.
Polari Prize
2024 Winner
2024 Shortlist & Longlist
Shortlist
Complete History
About the Polari Prize
The Polari Prize is a UK literary award celebrating LGBTQ+ writing, founded in 2011 by author Paul Burston and the Polari Salon, a monthly literary event at the Southbank Centre in London. The prize takes its name from Polari, a secret argot historically used by gay men, circus performers, and theatre folk in the United Kingdom to communicate covertly. It is the UK's premier literary award dedicated to LGBTQ+ literature. The prize has two main categories: the Polari First Book Prize (for debut works by British or British-resident authors) and the Polari Prize for Book of the Year (introduced in 2019 for any LGBTQ+ work by any author). A children's and YA prize was introduced in 2024. The award accepts all genres: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and memoir all compete. Past First Book Prize winners include Kirsty Logan's The Rental Heart (2015), Fiona Mozley's Elmet (2018), and Nicola Dinan's Bellies (2024). Book of the Year winners include Kate Davies's In at the Deep End (2020), Diana Souhami's No Modernism Without Lesbians (2021), Joelle Taylor's C+nto & Othered Poems (2022), Julia Armfield's Our Wives Under the Sea (2023), and Jon Ransom's The Gallopers (2024). The 2025 prize was cancelled following a controversy over the longlisting of author John Boyne, and the prize has announced a governance review with plans to return in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
- A UK literary award for LGBTQ+ writing, founded in 2011 by Paul Burston and the Polari Salon at the Southbank Centre. It celebrates the best LGBTQ+ literature by British and British-resident authors.
- Polari is a secret argot historically used by gay men, circus performers, and theatre folk in Britain to communicate discreetly. The prize takes its name as an act of reclamation and celebration of LGBTQ+ cultural history.
- The prize has three categories: the Polari First Book Prize (debut works), the Polari Prize for Book of the Year (since 2019, any LGBTQ+ work), and the Polari Children's & YA Prize (since 2024).
- All genres are eligible: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, memoir, and graphic works.
- The winner receives a cheque for £2,000, plus public recognition and promotion through the Polari Salon network.
- The 2025 prize was cancelled following widespread controversy over the longlisting of author John Boyne, who has made public comments on trans rights that many in the LGBTQ+ community found exclusionary. Organisers have committed to a governance review and plan to return in 2026.
- The 2024 Polari Prize (Book of the Year) was won by Jon Ransom for The Gallopers. The 2024 First Book Prize was won by Nicola Dinan for Bellies.