Taiwanese Author Wins International Booker Prize 2026

In a historic first, Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi has won the International Booker Prize 2026 for her novel Taiwan Travelogue, the first book translated from Mandarin Chinese to claim the prestigious award. The novel, co-translated by Taiwanese-American translator Lin King, weaves a tale of forbidden love, colonial history, and culinary exploration, set against the backdrop of 1930s Taiwan under Japanese rule.

Described by judges as a “captivating, slyly sophisticated novel”, Taiwan Travelogue cleverly masquerades as a rediscovered travel memoir, complete with fictional footnotes that initially fooled many readers into believing it was a genuine historical text. Published in 2020, the novel follows Aoyama Chizuko, a fictional Japanese writer, and O Chizuru, her Taiwanese translator, as they embark on a culinary tour of Taiwan. Their journey becomes a lens to examine love, culture, colonialism, and power, all while indulging in the island’s rich gastronomic traditions.

A Novel of Love, Loss, and Resilience

The story unfolds as Chizuko, sponsored by the Japanese government, documents her travels through Taiwan with Chizuru. Their professional relationship blossoms into a forbidden romance, reflecting the complexities of identity and oppression under colonial rule. Through their eyes, Yang explores the duality of Taiwanese life—where humor, love, and resilience endure even in the face of hardship.

Yang, 41, shared her creative process before the win, revealing how the novel’s themes transformed her own life:

Her dedication to the project earned her Taiwan’s highest literary honor, the Golden Tripod Award, in 2021 for the original Mandarin version.

Translation as a Bridge

Lin King’s English translation of Taiwan Travelogue was celebrated for capturing the novel’s nuance and emotional depth, earning her the National Book Award for Translated Literature in 2024. 

A Historic Win for Translation

The International Booker Prize recognizes outstanding works of fiction translated into English, with the £50,000 prize money split equally between Yang and King. The judges praised the novel for its “vital work of translation”, highlighting how it bridges cultures and histories through storytelling.

Taiwan Travelogue has already garnered critical acclaim, winning multiple accolades before its crowning achievement. This year’s win cements its place as a landmark in world literature, showcasing the power of fiction to illuminate hidden histories and forgotten voices.

For Yang and King, the award is not just a personal triumph but a celebration of Taiwanese literature and translation on the global stage.