Egyptian library launches major reading prize with EGP 1m+ fund targeting youth readers. Winners announced at July 2026 Alexandria Book Fair.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) has announced its 2025–2026 Grand Reading Prize, an annual competition designed to promote deep engagement with Egyptian literature and history.

The contest is open nationwide, targeting young adults aged 18–40, with 100 prize positions available. Registration opened on 15 November 2025 and closes 15 March 2026, allowing participants a four-month preparation period before assessments begin.

Thematic Focus

This edition centres on “Egypt in the First Half of the 20th Century: Societal Transformations and a Nation’s Renaissance.” The theme reflects a pivotal period of political, cultural, and economic modernisation, offering publishers insight into emerging reader interests in historical narratives and national identity. The previous edition, “Live A Thousand Years with Reading,” drew strong participation, confirming youth engagement with structured reading initiatives.

Prize Structure and Market Implications

The competition concludes with winners announced on 30 June 2026, with awards presented during the Alexandria International Book Fair in July 2026 – a key event attracting approximately 80 Egyptian and Arab publishers.

The prize fund totals over EGP 1 million, distributed across 100 winners: first prize EGP 50,000, second EGP 40,000, third EGP 30,000, and prizes scaling to EGP 3,000 for entrants ranked 51st–100th. This substantial prize pool signals growing institutional investment in reading culture, presenting partnership opportunities for publishers seeking to align with national literacy objectives.

Publishing Industry Context

For publishers, this represents a strategic platform for showcasing titles aligned with the competition’s historical theme. The BA also collaborates with the General Egyptian Book Organization and Egyptian-Arab Publishers Association, offering direct industry engagement channels.

Strategic Value

For publishing professionals, this initiative indicates a measurable, institutionally-supported demand for historically-focused content among Egyptian readers. Publishers might consider developing companion titles, study guides, or digital resources that align with the 20th-century Egypt theme to capitalise on this captive audience of motivated young readers.

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This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.