Six Poets Shortlisted for 2026 Einari Vuorela Prize at Annikki Festival
The Einari Vuorela Fund announced six shortlisted candidates for the €8,500 Einari Vuorela poetry prize at the Annikki Poetry Festival in Tampere on June 6; the shortlisted authors appeared on stage from 11:45.
The Einari Vuorela Fund announced at the Annikki Poetry Festival in Tampere on June 6 that the six shortlisted candidates were revealed; they appeared on stage from 11:45. The €8,500 prize, funded by the Einari Vuorela Fund, is presented every three years.
Eligible works were Finnish-language poetry collections published in 2023–2025. A three-member jury will judge the entries: lecturer Penjami Lehto leads the panel, with author Johanna Venho and critic Jukka Koskelainen as members. Professor Anto Leikola serves as honorary chair.
The nominated collections span a range of themes and styles, from intimate lyricism to expansive natural imagery. Anja Erämaja’s Joku menee aina ensin (WSOY, 2024) frames loss and everyday detail to link mourning with life; Lassi Hyvärinen’s Vieras metsä (Poesia, 2024) refracts familiar forest landscapes through fresh, unsettling images; Carlos Lievonen’s Vain heteitä (Otava, 2024) foregrounds sensual, nature-soaked love poetry.
Pirjo Lyytikäinen’s Vanhan metsän elegia (Aviador, 2025) responds lyrically to intensive forestry and memory, while Miia Toivio’s Hukka nukka tukka (Teos, 2024) reworks fairy-tale motifs to probe communication and identity. The shortlisted authors performed at the festival event.
The winner will be announced at the Einari Vuorela Society’s Korpirastas celebration in Keuruu on September 13, 2026. Photographers and publishers must be credited when using images related to the nominations.
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