(Jeffrey Barker)
Although the contemporary world presents the paradox of heightened connectivity alongside intensifying separation, poetry persists as a vital medium through which human expression traverses’ boundaries, binding together the voices, cultural legacies, shared memories, and imagined futures of diverse communities.
On December 12, 2025, that bridge shone with exceptional brilliance as the International Best Poets & Translators Awards announced this year’s honourees. The celebration, organized by the International Poetry Translation and Research Centre (IPTRC), The Journal of Rendition of International Poetry, and the Board of Directors of the World Union of Poetry Magazines, stands as one of the most respected recognitions for literary artistry across languages and continents.
This year’s awards honour fourteen remarkable poets and translators, representing thirteen countries, whose works embody the universality of feeling, imagination, and truth. They were chosen after three rigorous rounds of voting, conducted over two months, by a distinguished panel of judges from 18 nations, from Italy to Japan, from the United States to the United Arab Emirates, from Germany to Argentina. The process, deeply collaborative and thoroughly multicultural, reflects the very essence of global literary fellowship.
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The ten poets recognized this year bring to the global stage a vibrant spectrum of linguistic, cultural, and emotional worlds. (1) Isilda Nunes (Portugal) writes with Mediterranean radiance, blending saudade with contemporary reflection. (2) Yang Geum-Hee (Korea) offers poetry rooted in Eastern lyricism, meditative and exquisitely attentive to human tenderness. (3) abud N. Lončar (Montenegro) contributes the Balkan spirit of resilience, rhythm, and timeless landscape. (4) Adnan Al-Sayegh (Iraq), one of the most compelling voices of Arabic literature, continues to transform loss into luminous resistance. (5) Kalina Izabela Zioła (Poland) represents Central Europe’s intricate dance with memory, identity, and transformation. (6) Ghassan Al-Khunaizi (Saudi Arabia) brings the depth of a classical yet evolving Arabic tradition. (7) Sudeep Sen (India) paints the world with cosmopolitan insight, from New Delhi to global metropolises. (8) Zi Wu (China) offers refined clarity, a poet of imagery and philosophical resonance. (9) Mujë Buçpapaj (Albania) echoes the rugged beauty of the Balkans and its unbroken spirit. (10) Peter Thabit Jones (United Kingdom), with his commanding voice, reminds us of the rich lineage of British literature, and its continual reinvention. Together, they form a mosaic of languages, histories, and geographies. What unites them is a reverence for the poetic word. Its ability to illuminate the human condition, confront reality, and cradle hope.
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Translation is often called the “second art.” It demands devotion not only to the original text but also to the invisible breath of meaning that must survive the journey across languages. The four translators honored this year exemplify this sacred task. (1) Vo Thi Nhu Mai (Vietnam) brings Vietnamese readers to international poetry and carries Vietnamese poetic sensibility to the world, nurturing cross-cultural dialogue with delicacy and passion. (2) Yusuf Aslan (Türkiye) continues Turkey’s long tradition of linguistic openness, offering clarity and beauty to readers across continents. (3) Li Zhengshuan (China) enriches the global literary exchange with precise and graceful renderings of world poetry. (4) Claudia Piccinno (Italy), known for her extensive work across languages, ensures that poetic voices travel freely through the vast cultural corridors of Europe and beyond. These translators are intermediaries and are architects of understanding, lifting the voices of others into new realms while safeguarding rhythm, nuance, and soul.
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What sets the 2025 Awards apart is the calibre of its winners and the spirit of unity embodied in its selection process. The panel composed of eminent poets, translators, and scholars from eighteen countries represents a rare model of literary diplomacy. Each judge brought the richness of their own culture and literary tradition into the deliberations and shared a common purpose: to recognize excellence without borders.
Even as contemporary society contends with a landscape of pervasive unpredictability, the creation and translation of poetry persist as practices that cultivate courage, foster empathetic understanding, and affirm the possibility of deep human connection. It asks us to listen deeply, to embrace stories that are not our own, and to honour the voices that shape the world’s emotional memory.
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Poetry matters because it refuses to vanish. Because it still whispers truth when noise becomes unbearable. Because it finds the human pulse beneath the tumult of history. Because it teaches us to see fully. Poetry persists in every culture because it holds what is most fragile and most powerful in us: our longing to be understood and our capacity to understand. Translation extends that longing beyond borders. It transforms solitude into global solidarity. It builds bridges where politics build walls. It reveals that, despite differences in language, food, customs, climates, and beliefs, human beings carry similar dreams, similar wounds, similar prayers.
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The organizers extend profound gratitude to the international jury whose generosity and intellectual rigor shaped this year’s results. Representing countries such as Italy, the United States, Poland, Russia, the UAE, Romania, Sweden, India, France, Spain, China, Albania, Greece, Germany, Argentina, Israel, Japan, and Denmark, these eighteen judges offered a rare model of collective global stewardship in the arts. Their work reminds us that poetry thrives not only through writers and translators, but through the emotional labour of those who read, evaluate, and champion literature.
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As we celebrate this year’s honourees, we also celebrate the enduring power of poetry to unite humanity. The awards stand not merely as recognition of personal achievement, but as a testament to the shared global commitment to the literary arts.
To the poets: Thank you for reminding us how vast the human spirit can be.
To the translators: Thank you for carrying voices across the world with devotion and grace.
To the judges: Thank you for your generosity and wisdom.
To readers everywhere: Hope that poetry continues to illuminate your journey.
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Jeffrey works as a freelance reporter, drawing on his solid background in engineering to enhance the quality of his journalism. His technical training gives him a unique ability to break down complex issues, interpret data, and approach stories with precision and depth. Whether covering technology, infrastructure, or human-centered narratives, Jeffrey brings a thoughtful and analytical perspective that distinguishes his work. His versatility allows him to move confidently between investigative pieces, feature writing, and on-the-ground reporting, always committed to accuracy and clear communication.
