The Emerging Translator Mentorship program spotlights underrepresented languages in English translation.

By Andrew Richard Albanese, Editor-in-Chief

Tthe Norwich, U.K.-based National Centre for Writing has announced the language offerings for its 2026–27 Emerging Translator Mentorships. Mentorships are open to emerging translators based anywhere in the world (except for the Languages of India mentorship, which is available only to those based in India). This year’s language strands include two new partnerships with the Dutch Foundation for Literature and the National Museum of Taiwan Literature.

Applications are free to submit, and the deadline to apply is August 24 (11:59pm BST). Full details and application guidelines can be found here.

Now in its 17th year, the program supports the professional development of emerging literary translators working into English, particularly from languages that are currently underrepresented in English-language publishing. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of literary translation.

The 2026–27 languages are:

• Danish (mentored by Paul Russell Garrett)
• Dutch (mentored by Jonathan Reeder)
• Italian (mentored by Elena Pala)
• Korean (mentored by Clare Richards)
• Norwegian (mentored by Rosie Hedger)
• Polish (mentored by Sean Gasper Bye)
• Swiss German (mentored by Jamie Lee Searle)
• Literature from Taiwan (mentored by Jeremy Tiang)
• Languages of India (mentored by Mohini Gupta); this mentorship is open to India-based translators only, who have not received a Charles Wallace India Trust fellowship in the last five years and who agree to attend London Book Fair as part of the mentorship.

Founded in 2010 by translator, writer, and editor Daniel Hahn, the Emerging Translator Mentorships program pairs early-career translators with experienced mentors for six months of focused development. Mentees work on a practical translation project, receive a £800 stipend, and one year’s membership to The Society of Authors/Translators Association, and participate in training weekends, publishing industry events (including International Translation Day and London Book Fair), and a final digital showcase.

According to a release, the program has supported 150 translators working from 37 different languages. Alumni of the program have gone on to win several major awards, including Nichola Smalley, who was twice longlisted for the International Booker Prize and whose translation of Wretchedness by Andrzej Tichý won the 2021 Oxford-Weidenfeld Prize; Reuben Woolley, whose translation of Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv by Andrey Kurkov was also longlisted for the International Booker Prize; and Sophie Hughes, shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in both 2019 and 2020 for her translations of The Remainder by Alia Trabucco Zerán and Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor.