The literary award known as the Kresnik, which honors the best Slovenian novel of the previous year, was awarded for the first time in Switzerland this year, marking a significant shift from its traditional location in Ljubljana’s Rožnik. The ceremony took place on June 23, 2026, in the heart of Ljubljana's Tivoli Park. This change in venue was notable, as the Kresnik had been held annually since 1997 at the Rožnik, a historic building associated with Slovenian literature. For the first time in over two decades, the award ceremony moved abroad, reflecting both a symbolic and practical evolution in how the event is organized.
The winner of the 36th edition of the Kresnik was Ajda Bračič for her debut novel *Kresničevje*, published by LUD Literatura. Bračič, who was born in the same year the Kresnik was established, received the prize on her 36th birthday, adding a poetic layer to the occasion. She was awarded a cash prize of €7,000 gross, while the other four finalists each received €500 gross. The jury consisted of five experts: former Delo journalist Igor Bratož, literary historian Peter Svetina, literary translator and critic Tanja Petrič, poet and translator Kristina Kočan, and literary historian and translator Seta Knop. Their decision was based on the richness of the narrative, the interweaving of psychological, environmental, and mystical themes, and the poetic language used throughout the book.
*Kresničevje* tells the story of Agnes, a woman searching for her missing sister in a remote forest. Through her journey, the novel explores personal and collective guilt, humanity’s relationship with nature, and the possibility of survival in a world marked by uncertainty. It blends elements of folklore, ecology, and healing practices, creating a layered and atmospheric narrative. According to the jury, the novel’s language borders on incantation, and its clarity makes it beautifully moving. Bračič, who previously won the Maruša Kreša Award for her debut work *Leteči ljudje*, described the experience of writing *Kresničevje* as one filled with doubt and uncertainty, questioning whether the novel would be a great success or a complete failure.
In addition to the main award, the ceremony also recognized emerging talent through the "Young Quill" awards. Literary critic Eva Ule received the Young Quill award for critics, while prose writer Julija Lukovnjak was honored for her contributions as a young author. These awards highlight the ongoing support for new voices in Slovenian literature.
The move to Switzerland was not just a logistical change but also a symbolic gesture, linking the event to Ivan Cankar, one of Slovenia’s most celebrated writers, who spent part of his life in Switzerland. The choice of venue emphasized the international reach of Slovenian culture and literature, even as the essence of the Kresnik remained rooted in the human stories and reflections that have defined the award since its inception in 1991.
As the Kresnik continues to evolve, its significance lies not only in the recognition of literary excellence but also in its role as a platform for cultural dialogue and artistic expression. With the 2026 ceremony setting a precedent, future editions may continue to explore new venues and formats, ensuring the Kresnik remains relevant and vibrant in the ever-changing landscape of literature.
8 reports
RTV Slovenija (MMC)State / PublicCenterFactual 85Objective 9013 days agoThe article discusses the scripts of this year's finalists for the Kresnik Award in acting, noting that the Literary Night program has dedicated five episodes to presenting them.
Bias read (Center): The article is focused on cultural content and does not present any political stance or bias. It simply reports on the preparation and presentation of award finalists' scripts without taking a position or showing favoritism.
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 90): The article provides specific details about the event, including dates, participants, and descriptions of the literary works. It accurately reports the relocation of the award ceremony to Switzerland and includes direct quotes from the book. The information appears consistent with the cross-source c
VečerIndependent🔒Center10 days agoThe literary award 'Kresnik' for the best novel of the previous year, awarded by the media house Delo, was won by Ajda Bračič for her novel 'Kresničevje'. The decision was made by a five-member professional jury, chaired by former Delo journalist Igor Bratož. The novel, published by LUD Literatura, was praised for its multi-layered narrative exploring themes of guilt, nature, survival, and the relationship between humans and the environment. It features a protagonist searching for her missing sister in a remote forest, delving into personal and collective guilt, human-nature relationships, and survival in an uncertain world. Bračič received a prize of €7,000, while the other four finalists each received €500.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a literary award ceremony with no political implications. It focuses on cultural achievements and does not involve political figures, policies, or contentious issues. The content is purely informational and neutral in tone.
DeloIndependent🔒Center10 days agoAjda Bračič, slovenska pisateljica, je prejela 36. kresnika, ki je bila podeljena v letu, ko je bila njen 36. rojstni dan. Bračič je poudarila, da ni pričakovala nagrade, in opisala dogodilo, kjer ji je partner podaril zeleno jagodo, ki je bila simbol njenega uspeha. Žirija je ocenila njen jezikovni slog kot presunljivo lep, čist in gost. Bračič je poudarila, da je njeno pisalno ustvarjanje vplivalo na njen jezikovni slog, saj je prej pisala poezijo in ne pripovedništvo. Njen roman 'Kresničevje' je prejelo kritično pozornost. Bračič je arhitektka in trenutno razmišlja o novem pisanju, vendar se bo lotila resnega dela šele po zaključku sezone nagrad.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a literary award and the personal reflections of the recipient, with no explicit political commentary, framing, or bias detectable in the language or sourcing. It discusses cultural achievements without aligning with any political stance.
DeloIndependent🔒Center10 days ago Aida Bračič's award-winning comic: Through the forest of guilt to the serenity of graceThe 60th awarding of the Kresnik prize for the best novel of the previous year took place for the first time in 20 years at a new location—Switzerland, in the middle of Ljubljana's Tivoli city park. The prize, worth €7,000, was awarded to author Ajda Bračič for her debut novel 'Kresničevje,' published by LUD Literatura. This marks the third time Bračič has received the Kresnik, having previously won for her first book, 'Leteči ljudje' (2022), which also earned her the Maruše Krese Award. In her acceptance speech, Bračič described her novel as a space for reflection on the relationship between humans and nature, emphasizing the importance of remaining vitalistic despite self-awareness of personal shortcomings. The novel follows protagonist Agnes, who searches for her sister Klaro in a vast forest, encountering a mysterious community along the way. The jury praised the psychological depth of the characters and the wide range of themes explored, including ecology, folklore, and healing practices. Finalists received plaques, with the winner also receiving €7,000 in cash, while other nominees received €500 for exceptional work.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a literary event and does not engage in overtly political commentary, framing, or advocacy. It provides a balanced overview of the event, the author’s background, and the content of the winning novel without taking a stance on any political issue.
N1 SlovenijaIndependentCenter10 days agoAjda Bračič has won the Kresnik Award for Best Novel of the Previous Year for her novel 'Kresničevje,' which was previously shortlisted for the Cankar Award. The award ceremony took place in Switzerland for the first time and was organized by the media group Delo. Bračič's novel explores themes of guilt, nature, survival, and human relationships through the story of a protagonist searching for her missing sister in a remote forest. The jury praised the multi-layered narrative, the blend of psychological, environmental, and mystical elements, and the poetic language used in the book. A five-member expert jury, chaired by former Delo journalist Igor Bratož, selected Bračič as the winner. Other finalists included Vesna Lemaić and Roman Rozina.
Bias read (Center): The article provides an objective overview of the literary award ceremony, focusing on the author, the novel, and the jury members. There is no evident political framing, bias, or slant in the content presented.
Siol.netState / PublicCenter10 days agoThe literary award 'Kresnik' for the best novel of the previous year, awarded by the media house Delo, was presented at the 36th ceremony held for the first time in Switzerland. The prize was awarded to Ajda Bračič for her novel 'Kresničevje,' which she had previously received critical acclaim for. The jury praised the novel for its multi-layered narrative, blending psychological, environmental, and mystical themes with a poetic language that creates a unique atmosphere. The novel explores themes of personal and collective guilt, human relationships with nature, and survival in an uncertain world through the story of protagonist Agnes searching for her missing sister in a remote Karst forest. Five finalists were selected, including Bračič, Vesna Lemaić, Roman Rozina, Irena Svetek, and Agata Tomažič, all of whom received financial awards. The Kresnik is considered the most prestigious Slovenian literary award for novels, established in 1991 and traditionally awarded in Ljubljana since 1997.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced overview of the literary event, focusing on the awarding of a cultural prize without taking a stance on any political issue. It presents the facts objectively, including the winner, the jury members, and the background of the award, without showing favoritism or bias.
DnevnikIndependent🔒Center10 days agoAjda Bračič has won the Kresnik Award for the best novel of the previous year for her book 'Kresničevje.' The award, presented by the media group Delo, was given at this year's 36th ceremony, which took place for the first time in Switzerland. Bračič received a prize of €7,000 gross. The jury praised the novel for its multi-layered narrative, blending psychological, environmental, and mystical themes with a poetic language that creates a unique atmosphere. The novel explores themes of personal and collective guilt, human relationships with nature, and survival in an uncertain world through the story of protagonist Agnes searching for her missing sister in a remote forest. The five finalists included Vesna Lemaić, Roman Rozina, Irena Svetek, and Agata Tomažič, all of whom received €500 gross as consolation prizes.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced overview of the literary event, focusing on the artistic merits of the winning novel and the composition of the jury. There is no evident ideological framing or biased language. The content is primarily cultural but intersects with national politics due to the mention
Slovenske noviceIndependentCenter10 days agoAjda Bračič has won the 36th Kresnik Award for the best novel of the previous year, awarded by the media group Delo. The award ceremony took place for the first time in Switzerland this year. Bračič received the prize for her novel 'Kresničevje,' which she previously received critical acclaim for. The jury praised the book for its multi-layered narrative, blending psychological, environmental, and mystical themes with a poetic language that creates a unique atmosphere. Five novels from five publishers, written by four authors, competed for the award. Bračič's novel explores themes of personal and collective guilt, human relationships with nature, and survival in an uncertain world. A five-member professional jury, chaired by former Delo journalist Igor Bratož, decided the winner.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced overview of the literary event, focusing on the artistic merits of the winning novel and the composition of the jury. There is no evident ideological framing or biased language. The content is centered around cultural recognition rather than political controversy.
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