Just minutes after being announced as our 2026 Swansea University (@swanseauni ) Dylan Thomas Prize winner, we caught up with Sasha Debevec-McKenney (@sashajdm ) for some words on what winning the prestigious prize means to her. #SUDTP26
🎉 The 2026 winner of the Swansea University (@swanseauni ) Dylan Thomas Prize (@dylanthomasprize ) is SASHA DEBEVEC-McKENNEY (@sashajdm ) for her exuberant, blistering debut poetry collection full of life, humour and ideas, 'Joy Is My Middle Name.' 🏆
Congratulations to Sasha and all at @fitzcarraldoeditions !
See link in bio for press release.
#SUDTP26
Congratulations to Sasha Debevec-McKenney, winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize 2026 for her “blistering” debut poetry collection, Joy Is My Middle Name.
You can join the poet at Hay Festival 2026 on Sunday 31 May, in conversation with Irenosen Okojie, herself an award-winning author and chair of the judging panel.
Book now at the link in our bio.
Congratulations to Sasha Debevec-McKenney (@sashajdm ), who has woken up to a bright spring morning here in Swansea as the 2026 Swansea University (@swanseauni ) Dylan Thomas Prize WINNER 🏆. Her debut poetry collection, 'Joy Is My Middle Name' (@fitzcarraldoeditions ) was the judges' unanimous pick in an incredibly strong shortlist of titles by 6 amazing authors. #SUDTP26
2026 SHORTLIST CELEBRATION AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY
Authors Harriet Armstrong (@harrietarmstrong2000 ), Colwill Brown (@_colwill_ ), Sasha Debevec-McKenney (@sashajdm ), Suzannah V. Evans (@suzannahvevans ), Seán Hewitt (@seanehewitt ), and Derek Owusu (@derekvsowusu ) provided wonderful conversation and readings from their six shortlisted works at this fantastic evening at London's historic British Library (@britishlibrary ) . The event also featured special live performances from Côr Y Boro | Borough Welsh Choir (@coryboro_london ), and was hosted by celebrated author and Chair of this year's Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize judging panel, Irenosen Okojie MBE (@irenosenokojie ).
All members of our illustrious judging panel were on hand to help celebrate, including Joe Dunthorne (@joe_dunthorne ), Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe, Prajwal Parajuly (@prajwalparajuly ), and Eley Williams (@giantratsumatra ).
Photographs by Jainey Airey Photography
More photos of the evening can be found via the link in our bio.
#SUDTP26
In this exclusive reading, 2026 @swanseauni Dylan Thomas Prize shortlisted author, Derek Owusu (@derekvsowusu ), reads an extract from his powerful and luminously written third novel, 'Borderline Fiction' (@canongatebooks )
Will Derek be crowned our 2026 winner? Join us LIVE! from 6pm (BST) on Thursday 14th May via our award ceremony livestream. See the link in our bio.
#SUDTP26
In this exclusive reading, 2026 @swanseauni Dylan Thomas Prize shortlisted author, Seán Hewitt (@seanehewitt ), reads an extract from his achingly beautiful debut novel, 'Open, Heaven' (@jonathancapebooks [@vintagebooks , @penguinrandomhouse ]).
Will Seán be crowned our 2026 winner? Join us LIVE! from 6pm (BST) on Thursday 14th May via our award ceremony livestream. See the link in our bio.
#SUDTP26
In this exclusive reading, 2026 @swanseauni Dylan Thomas Prize shortlisted author, Suzannah V. Evans (@suzannahvevans ), reads an extract from her arresting and deeply candid debut poetry collection, 'Under the Blue' (@bloomsburypublishing ).
Will Suzannah be crowned our 2026 winner? Join us LIVE! from 6pm (BST) on Thursday 14th May via our award ceremony livestream. See the link in our bio.
#SUDTP26
![In this exclusive reading, 2026 @swanseauni Dylan Thomas Prize shortlisted author, Seán Hewitt (@seanehewitt), reads an extract from his achingly beautiful debut novel, 'Open, Heaven' (@jonathancapebooks [@vintagebooks, @penguinrandomhouse]).Will Seán be crowned our 2026 winner? Join us LIVE! from 6pm (BST) on Thursday 14th May via our award ceremony livestream. See the link in our bio.#SUDTP26](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6727294468332534283613_0_c7946660b02e933cfe1a4fb750dbe933.jpg?o=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&h=a1771429fd6fcfa059f0f72a7497d8b6)
