RABAT, April 26, 2026 (WAFA) – Four Palestinian poets representing different strands of the Palestinian poetic experience have been awarded the 18th edition of the Argana International Poetry Prize, coinciding with UNESCO’s announcement of Rabat as the World Book Capital for 2026.
The award, granted by the House of Poetry in Morocco with the support of Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, was presented during a special ceremony held in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.
The winners are Youssef Abdel Aziz, Taher Riyadh, and Zuhair Abu Shaib, while Ghassan Zaqtan was unable to attend due to a health condition that prevented him from traveling.
The poets expressed their gratitude for what they described as Morocco’s consistent cultural support for Palestine and for a prize that has strengthened ties between Morocco and Palestine.
House of Poetry in Morocco president poet Murad Al-Qadri said that awarding the prize to four Palestinian poets reflects a commitment to diversity within the prize’s vision, rather than a singular narrative of Palestinian poetry.
He added that Palestinian poets have long elevated their cause through poetry, transforming it into a cultural and imaginative space rather than solely a political issue.
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