There is a great international interest in Swedish literature. The Swedish Arts Council is the government agency with responsibility for promoting Swedish literature in translation. Through Swedish Literature Exchange we coordinate a number of efforts within the field.
Grants for Translation and Promotion
The Gothenburg Book Fair Fellowship
In order to increase the knowledge of Swedish literature and the Swedish book market, we arrange a Fellowship program taking place during the Gothenburg Book Fair, September 23–26. In 2026, we are focusing on children’s and YA books, so we hereby invite publishers and translators working with those genres to apply.
Grants for translators of Swedish literature
This grant promotes international exchange and skill improvement activities among translators of Swedish literature and drama.
Grants for translation of Swedish literature and drama (Non-Nordic languages)
This grant aims to promote translation of Swedish literature into other, non-Nordic, languages.
Swedish Bookshelf
Explore our bookshelf and read about Swedish books
Our Grants
Fundig schemes and lists over allocated grants
Swedish Literature Exchange
How we promote Swedish literature in translation
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For publishers, theatres and organisers
Funding schemes for translation and promotion
For translators
Find out more about our grants and activities for translators
More Swedish Fiction
This booklet is for everyone interested in what’s happening in contemporary Swedish literature. You will discover promising debut authors as well as established voices. What they have in common is that they are all deemed to have the potential to reach more readers beyond Sweden’s borders.
More Swedish Books for Young Readers
In our new publication we introduce you to exciting children’s and YA authors writing in Swedish today. They are authors who have already found readers in other languages and have the potential to reach even more. The publication is a standalone follow-up to the edition from 2020.
News
A translator's perspective: Françoise Sule
In connection with the Sámi National Day, we contacted Françoise Sule, who translates into French, and asked her to share her thoughts on translating Sámi literature. Sule has translated Je suis la mer (Far inte till havet) and Vies de Samis (Herrarna satte oss hit) by Elin Anna Labba.
This year’s final allocation for Nordic and Non-Nordic Translations
The third round of applications for Nordic and non-Nordic languages for 2025 has now been finalised. Of the 125 applications received, 89 were approved. In this round, we are for the first time supporting both translation and production costs for three poetry works.
Translator workshops, mentorships and book talks in the latest allocation rounds
The fourth distribution round of grants for translators, as well as the grant for international promotion of Swedish literature and drama for 2025, has been decided.
Translator's Choice
The House with the Two Towers
In The House with the Two Towers (Huset med de två tornen), Maciej Zaremba dissects the events of his parents’ lives and how their war experiences led to an inevitable separation. Janny Middelbeek-Oortgiesen, who translates into Dutch, recommends a book that draws a finely nuanced portrait of childhood in post-war Poland.
Who Does Suzanne Osten Think She Is?
Who Does Suzanne Osten Think She Is? is more than a magnificent and colourful portrait of one of the greatest theatre and film directors of our time. It is a portrait of a zeitgeist. Ana Valdés, who translates into Spanish, recommends Suzanne Osten’s autobiography published in 2021.
W by Steve Sem-Sandberg
Emöke Andersson Lipcsey, who translates into Hungarian, recommends a book based on the life of the historical figure Johann Christian Woyzeck. The author Steve Sem-Sandberg uses W.’s fate to paint a shocking, true picture of how the brutality of war can affect and warp the character of the individual.