why fwd

fwd offers publishers early access to a selected set of recently published books by emerging European literary talent with strong international potential. By participating in fwd, publishers become part of a European network dedicated to literary discovery, translation, and cross-border collaboration. The programme increases the visibility of selected titles through international branding, coordinated promotion, and reader-focused campaigns, including presentation through an app specifically designed for fwd readers where readers can engage with each other, the translator and the writer, sharing their perspectives on the fwd books. At its core, fwd is designed to create sustainable connections between publishers, translators, writers and a new generation of European readers.

fwd community

fwd 2026 longlist

fwd works with a carefully curated longlist. The longlist consists of outstanding recent books by emerging European writers, originally published after 2023. Titles are selected by a network of leading literary critics, translators, publishers and literary professionals from participating countries. The longlist presents high-potential European titles available for international translation and publication.

Through the first fwd call for Pitching Grants, we selected the following longlist. These books will each be pitched in a selection of fwd countries. The selected translators will be paid for their work plus receive coaching from an experienced literary consultant.
 

fwd for translators

Emerging (CELA) translators, CELA alumni and CELA mentors to and from all participating fwd languages are invited to apply for a pitching grant. They can apply with a proposal to pitch any book selected for the fwd recommendation list that was created by literary experts across Europe.

The grant consists of a maximum fee of 1.400 euro per selected pitch according to delivered tasks:
– 300 euro for the translation of a sample from the pitched book (2000 words).
– 200 euro to hire an editor/proofreader for the sample text.
– 300 euro for creating a pitch and a cover letter coached and reviewed by a literary consultant paid by fwd. 

– 300 euro for participation at a live national pitching event organised by the fwd member in the translator’s country.
– 300 euro for visiting a national book hosted by the fwd member in the translator’s country.

The selected translators will take part in all the activities mentioned above and receive the grant after reporting on their pitch activities. The selected translators will be coordinated by the fwd member in their target language country.

The first fwd pitching grant call closed on 14 June 2026. We will prepare a new call in 2027.

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fwd for publishers

what is fwd?

fwd connects publishers to remarkable new literary voices from across Europe. Through a curated selection process and two dedicated grant schemes, we support publishers in discovering, translating, publishing, and promoting new European books.

fwd starts with a carefully curated longlist. The longlist consists of outstanding recent works of books by emerging European writers, originally published after 2023. Titles are selected by a network of leading young literary critics, translators, publishers, and literary professionals from participating countries.

how does fwd work?

01. Longlist
The longlist will be published in September 2026 and serves as a catalogue of high-potential European titles available for international translation and publication.

02. Pitching

The longlisted fwd books will be pitched by fwd translators during live pitch events across participating countries. Publishers will be invited to meet the most relevant voices of Europe and their work.

03. Application
Between September 2026 and March 2027, publishers can apply for the fwd Kickstarting Grant by acquiring the translation rights to one or more longlisted books that were pitched to them by the fwd translators. This grant supports the early stages of translation and publication development.

04. Shortlist
Books that are acquired for translation simultaneously in several participating countries will be selected by fwd to move to the shortlist. The shortlist will be published in June 2027 and represents the titles with the strongest international publishing momentum and cross-European appeal.

05. Promotion
Publishers of shortlisted titles become eligible for the fwd Promotion Grant, which supports the international promotion and visibility of the translated editions. This includes support for marketing campaigns, readings and interviews at fwd literary festivals, book tours visiting committed fwd bookshops, fwd promotional materials, and reader outreach across Europe.

06. Launch
The shortlisted books and their international editions will be presented collectively during the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2028.

what are the available fwd grants?

fwd kickstarting grant for longlisted books | 2.000 euro 

Between September 2026 and February 2027, publishers can apply for the kickstarting grant. This grant supports them in the translation and revision of longlisted fwd books, and/or covers costs connected with the preparatory phase of publishing (licenses, grants applications et cetera), creating high quality translations of fwd books. A maximum of 25 kickstarting grant will be supported in 2027.

Conditions: 

• A signed contract with a fwd translator
• A signed license contract with the publisher of the fwd longlisted book
• Contract with an experienced translator/editor for revision of the translation

Applications will open 1 September 2026

Deadline for application: 1 March 2027

fwd promotion grant for shortlisted books | up to 3.000 euro

In June 2027 the fwd shortlist will be announced. Selected publishers will receive the fwd promotion grant, which can be used for promotional activities presenting both the writer and translator. The selected publisher will be requested to create a promotional plan, on which fwd will base the grant amount.

Publishers can not apply for the fwd promotion grant but will be selected based on the European dissemination of their fwd translation across Europe. 

Supported activities:

• Printed fwd advertisement materials dedicated to the promoted book
• Online content creation using the supplied fwd materials
• Branded social media campaigns in collaboration with fwd platforms

• Submission to national literary prizes
• Other activities dedicated to book promotion

Conditions:

• The fwd book should be published between September 2027 and September 2028 -  the shortlisted books will be presented at the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2028
• Mention the translator on the book cover
• Use fwd branded material as supplied and instructed

Announcement of fwd shortlist and selected publishers: June 2027.

fwd literary tour grant | up to 2.000 euro

In addition to the promotion grant fwd, connected festivals/event organisers, bookshops and selected publishers are encouraged to apply for a literary tour grant. Through this grant, fwd supports the participation of both writer and translator of the selected fwd books in a promotion book tour. Applicants will be asked to share a list of planned events that will be hosted in this tour, on which fwd will base the grant amount.

Supported activities:

• Participation of the writer and translator in a promotional book tour (fees)
• Travel and accommodation costs for the writer and translator
• Productional costs for organised events
• Promotional material to present the events

Conditions:

• Organise a book tour, collaborating with fwd literary festivals, book fairs and bookstores
• Include both writer and translator in the events
• Use fwd branded material as supplied and instructed

Applications will open 1 July 2027
Deadline for application: 1 October 2027

fwd mobility

fwd supports mobility for emerging literary artists (writers and translators in fwd languages) and for literary professionals in fwd member countries. Regularly, calls will open to apply for a grant to support travel to relevant literary events, festivals, book fairs et cetera across Europe and beyond.

Literary artists and professionals can apply for:

• 600 euro for travels under 600 km
• 1.000 euro for travels exceeding 600 km

The applicants will receive the grant after completing an online report within 30 days after the travel.

Additionally, fwd opens calls for event organisers (festivals and bookstores connected to fwd) who want to invite an emerging literary artist (writers and translators in fwd languages) to their festival programme.

Event organisers can apply for:

• 1.400 euro to invite CELA literary artists (both writers and their translators) from abroad and host them in a literary event.

The applicants will receive the grant after completing an online report within 30 days after the event.

The first calls closed Spring 2026. Next calls will open in September.

Deadline: 31 October 2026 (for travels and events January-June 2027)

about fwd

fwd is a new extension of CELA that connects emerging European writers and translators with a new generation of readers. It is a platform for literary talent, organisations and publishers that can act as a matchmaker, (sub-)agent and information hub.

fwd focuses on prose books from small language markets and currently consists of 15 literary organisations from 13 European countries and is coordinated by International Literature House Wintertuin from Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Our ambition is to grow towards 20 members in 2029 and move further fwd from there.

Want to get in touch with the fwd team?

Frank Tazelaar
director
frank@wintertuin.nl

Kim van Kaam
project coordinator
kim@wintertuin.nl

Casper Schaaf
project assistant
casper@wintertuin.nl

Michala Čičváková
grants manager
michala@wintertuin.nl

fwd supports the protection of human authorship and literary work as defended by the ART principles (Authorisation - Remuneration - Transparency) of the EWC-European Writers’ Council and CEATL-European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations.

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