Award regulations
Award regulations
Iv. Bunin
REGULATIONS
OF THE INTERNATIONAL LITERARY PRIZE
NAMED I. A. BUNIN
/Approved by the Bunin Prize Organizing Committee,
NGO "Bunin Prize" May 2026/
1.General Provisions
1.1 The Ivan Alekseevich Bunin International Literary Prize (hereinafter referred to as the Prize) is an annual international award established in honor of the great Russian writer and Nobel Prize laureate in Literature.
1.2 The Prize is awarded for outstanding achievements in
modern literature that contribute to the preservation of classical traditions and the development of literary creativity.
1.3 The Prize award ceremony (Grand Prix) is held annually on October 22, Bunin's birthday.
1.4 The official information resource for the Prize is buninprize.ru. All regulatory changes, the composition of the Jury, and current dates are published exclusively on this website.
1.5 The Organizing Committee provides organizational support for the Prize. the structure of which includes: the Jury, the Board of Trustees, the Editorial Board of the Almanac, and the Coordination Center "Bunin Readings".
1.2 The Prize is awarded for outstanding achievements in
modern literature that contribute to the preservation of classical traditions and the development of literary creativity.
1.3 The Prize award ceremony (Grand Prix) is held annually on October 22, Bunin's birthday.
1.4 The official information resource for the Prize is buninprize.ru. All regulatory changes, the composition of the Jury, and current dates are published exclusively on this website.
1.5 The Organizing Committee provides organizational support for the Prize. the structure of which includes: the Jury, the Board of Trustees, the Editorial Board of the Almanac, and the Coordination Center "Bunin Readings".
2. Mission and Principles
2.1 The Prize's Mission: To inspire talented writers, researchers, and translators; to support the creation of profound and genuine prose and poetry; to preserve and enrich the world's literary heritage; and to build bridges between cultures through literature.
2.1 The Prize is based on three fundamental principles:
International recognition – openness to all countries and continents.
Historical continuity – reliance on the aesthetics, linguistic precision, and humanistic character of I. A. Bunin's work.
Comprehensive support for talent – a combination of financial compensation, publishing opportunities, and professional networking.
3.Nominations
and objects
of consideration
and objects
of consideration
3.1 The Prize is awarded in the following categories:
Fiction (novels, short story collections, novellas, essays)
Poetry (author's collections, large poetry cycles)
Literary Translation
Bunin Studies (fundamental research)
Young Bunin/Bunin Digital Generation
3.2 Works are accepted in three languages: Russian, English, and French. Works by foreign authors must have a summary in Russian.
3.3 The work must meet high artistic standards and not violate Russian law or universal ethical norms.
Fiction (novels, short story collections, novellas, essays)
Poetry (author's collections, large poetry cycles)
Literary Translation
Bunin Studies (fundamental research)
Young Bunin/Bunin Digital Generation
3.2 Works are accepted in three languages: Russian, English, and French. Works by foreign authors must have a summary in Russian.
3.3 The work must meet high artistic standards and not violate Russian law or universal ethical norms.
4.The procedure for nominating and submitting applications
4.1 Participation in the Prize is carried out through the special section of the Nominees website - the "Participation Form." Universities and publishing houses may also submit applications through the Prize Organizing Committee.
4.2 The following persons have the right to nominate:
Authors (self-nomination)
Publishing houses and literary publications
Creative unions, universities, and cultural institutions
Previous Prize winners
4.3 Documentation package:
Electronic participation form
Text of the work
For printed publications: 3 copies of the book are sent to the Prize address.
Brief biography and bibliography
Signed consent to the processing of personal data
Disclosure of information on the use of AI in accordance with the Ethics Manifesto
4.2 The following persons have the right to nominate:
Authors (self-nomination)
Publishing houses and literary publications
Creative unions, universities, and cultural institutions
Previous Prize winners
4.3 Documentation package:
Electronic participation form
Text of the work
For printed publications: 3 copies of the book are sent to the Prize address.
Brief biography and bibliography
Signed consent to the processing of personal data
Disclosure of information on the use of AI in accordance with the Ethics Manifesto
5.Expert evaluation and jury
5.1 The works are evaluated by a Jury formed by the Organizing Committee from recognized cultural figures, writers, poets, literary scholars, and translators with the relevant expertise.
5.2 The list of Jury members is published on the website before the application period begins. Jury members cannot be nominees in the current competition cycle.
5.3 The evaluation takes place in two stages:
Preliminary examination:
Professional selection by the Prize Organizing Committee.
Jury meeting: discussion of the shortlist, secret ballot.
5.4 The Jury's decision is final, will not be disclosed until the official ceremony, and is not subject to review.
5.2 The list of Jury members is published on the website before the application period begins. Jury members cannot be nominees in the current competition cycle.
5.3 The evaluation takes place in two stages:
Preliminary examination:
Professional selection by the Prize Organizing Committee.
Jury meeting: discussion of the shortlist, secret ballot.
5.4 The Jury's decision is final, will not be disclosed until the official ceremony, and is not subject to review.
6.Awards and support measures
6.1 Grand Prix (Winner - Laureate)
Cash Prize (amount approved by the Board of Trustees)
Gold Medal with an image of I. A. Bunin
Grand Prix Laureate Diploma
Priority Publication in the Almanac
Participation in the Prize's international cultural projects
6.2 Finalists (Shortlist)
Finalist Diploma
Publishing Works in the Almanac
Invitation to the "Bunin Readings"
6.3 The Organizing Committee reserves the right to approve special prizes and cash awards
Cash Prize (amount approved by the Board of Trustees)
Gold Medal with an image of I. A. Bunin
Grand Prix Laureate Diploma
Priority Publication in the Almanac
Participation in the Prize's international cultural projects
6.2 Finalists (Shortlist)
Finalist Diploma
Publishing Works in the Almanac
Invitation to the "Bunin Readings"
6.3 The Organizing Committee reserves the right to approve special prizes and cash awards
7.Ethics
(The rules are based on the official Prize Manifesto.
7.1 The Prize recognizes the role of modern technologies but maintains the priority of human authorship.
7.2 In the Questionnaire, the author must indicate whether artificial intelligence tools were used in the development of the text.
7.3 Acceptable limits for the use of AI:
Assistant editing, fact checking, searching for synonyms and rhymes
Technical formatting and translation tasks
Generation of ideas that do not replace the author's intent.
7.4 Unacceptable: Complete text generation by a neural network, without significant creative human input, or disguising an AI text as the author's own.
7.5 Works that violate the principles of the ethical use of AI will be disqualified at any stage of the evaluation.
7.1 The Prize recognizes the role of modern technologies but maintains the priority of human authorship.
7.2 In the Questionnaire, the author must indicate whether artificial intelligence tools were used in the development of the text.
7.3 Acceptable limits for the use of AI:
Assistant editing, fact checking, searching for synonyms and rhymes
Technical formatting and translation tasks
Generation of ideas that do not replace the author's intent.
7.4 Unacceptable: Complete text generation by a neural network, without significant creative human input, or disguising an AI text as the author's own.
7.5 Works that violate the principles of the ethical use of AI will be disqualified at any stage of the evaluation.
8Infrastructure of the award
8.1 The Bunin Prize Almanac is a digital publication featuring works by laureates, shortlisted nominees, literary criticism, and materials on the work of I. A. Bunin.
8.2 The Annual Bunin Readings is an annual educational and discussion platform featuring lectures, master classes, roundtables, and meetings with the Prize Jury and Trustees. Prize laureates are honorary participants.
8.3 The Prize Friends' Club is a community of patrons, publishers, scholars, and literary enthusiasts who support the Prize's mission. Club members receive priority access to events, closed readings, and printed materials.
8.2 The Annual Bunin Readings is an annual educational and discussion platform featuring lectures, master classes, roundtables, and meetings with the Prize Jury and Trustees. Prize laureates are honorary participants.
8.3 The Prize Friends' Club is a community of patrons, publishers, scholars, and literary enthusiasts who support the Prize's mission. Club members receive priority access to events, closed readings, and printed materials.
9.Copyright and Privacy
9.1 Authors retain all exclusive rights to their works.
9.2 By submitting an application, the participant grants the Organizing Committee a non-exclusive license to:
Publish their works in the Almanac and on the website buninprize.ru
Use their name, photograph, and quotes in the Prize's informational and advertising materials
Archival storage and cataloging
9.3 Participants' personal data is processed in accordance with Federal Law No. 152 "On Personal Data" and is not transferred to third parties without the author's consent.
9.2 By submitting an application, the participant grants the Organizing Committee a non-exclusive license to:
Publish their works in the Almanac and on the website buninprize.ru
Use their name, photograph, and quotes in the Prize's informational and advertising materials
Archival storage and cataloging
9.3 Participants' personal data is processed in accordance with Federal Law No. 152 "On Personal Data" and is not transferred to third parties without the author's consent.
10.Final Provisions
10.1 These regulations shall enter into force upon publication on the official website buninprize.ru.
10.2 All disputes not regulated by this document shall be resolved by the Organizing Committee in the normal course of business.ке.
10.2 All disputes not regulated by this document shall be resolved by the Organizing Committee in the normal course of business.ке.
©Bunin Prize. 2026