Yanick Lahens Wins Grand Prix du Roman de l'Académie française 2026

Haitian writer Yanick Lahens has been awarded the Grand Prix du Roman de l'Académie française 2026 for her novel "Passagères de nuit," published by Sabine Wespieser. The novel gives voice to ordinary women who have been marginalized, celebrating their resilience and strength. Lahens, born in 1953 in Haiti, studied in France and returned to Haiti in 1977 to teach literature at the State University of Haiti. She has been a cultural radio host, a member of the cabinet of Culture Minister Raoul Peck, and directed the UNESCO Slave Route project in Haiti. She founded the Association of Haitian Writers in 1998 and a foundation in 2008 supporting youth and literacy. Her previous works include "Dans la maison du père" (2000), "La Couleur de l'aube" (2008), and "Bain de lune" (2014), which won the Prix Femina. "Passagères de nuit" was published in the 2025 literary season. Lahens has received numerous honors, including the Prix Carbet for her body of work in 2020, and was named an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters by France in 2009. She delivered the inaugural lecture of the Francophone Worlds chair at the Collège de France in 2019.