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Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award 2025

A photo of Zadie Smith wearing red lipstick and a red top, looking into the distance.

Join us for an evening of readings from the shortlisted authors of The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award, chaired by author and former winner, Zadie Smith. 

Spanning fiction, nonfiction and poetry, the four shortlisted authors – announced in February 2025 – will perform readings from their work and provide insight into their practice.

The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award is UK and Ireland’s most influential prize for emerging literary talent. Since its inception in 1991, it has been committed to finding the most talented young writers that represent the best in British and Irish writing, including previous winners Sally Rooney, Jay Bernard, Raymond Antrobus and Max Porter.

Zadie Smith is a critically acclaimed writer of novels, essays, short stories and more, including White Teeth, NW, Swing Time, On Beauty, Intimations and The Wife of Willesden. She won the The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award in 2001. 

Tagged with: Talks & events

Running time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award is given annually to the best work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry by a British or Irish author aged 35 or under. 

The winner of this year's award will be announced on Tue 18 Mar.  

 

Image by Ben Bailey-Smith

£5

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*Excludes £1.50 booking fee

Young Barbican Takeover Festival (£10)

Join us for a vibrant day of events curated for and by London's emerging creatives with artists, musicians, writers and industry professionals.

Frobisher Auditorium 1

An orange logo that reads: The Sunday Times, The Charlotte Aitken Trust Young Writer of the Year