A new GBP10,000 annual prize for travel writing has been launched at the Sherborne Travel Writing Festival on 13 April, book news company The Bookseller revealed on Monday.

The award will recognise a published British or European author whose work fosters understanding across cultures and counters division through the power of narrative.

Eligible entries include full-length non-fiction or creative non-fiction travel books published in English in 2024 or 2025 by British or EU nationals. Submissions must be made by the author's publisher or agent, with full details to be outlined on the award's dedicated website.

Funded by an anonymous private donor, the inaugural award will be judged by authors Colin Thubron and Sara Wheeler, alongside literary agent Emma Paterson. A shortlist will be announced in January 2026, with the winner revealed during the April 2026 edition of the Sherborne Travel Writing Festival.

Festival curator Rory MacLean emphasised the role of travel writers as 'bridge builders', highlighting the genre's capacity to foster empathy and deepen human connection through storytelling.