Polina Panassenko wins 2026 Le Monde
Franco-Russian author Polina Panassenko has won the 14th Le Monde literary prize for her novel 'À voix haute', published by Éditions de l'Olivier.
Franco-Russian writer, translator, and actress Polina Panassenko has won the 14th Le Monde literary prize. The jury crowned her novel À voix haute, published by Éditions de l'Olivier, at a ceremony in Paris on Thursday, September 3.
Panassenko succeeds Laurent Mauvignier, who won last year for La maison vide (Minuit) and later won the 2025 Prix Goncourt. The award was presented at the Hôtel de Massa in the city's 14th arrondissement.
A story of return and revelation
The winning novel, À voix haute, tells the story of a young woman who grew up in France. Dreaming of becoming an actress, she returns to Russia and her grandfather to enter the Moscow National Theatre School. As Vladimir Putin's re-election triggers protests, she questions her elder about the past. He remains mysterious, but she gradually uncovers family secrets. The book was published on August 21.
Sales figures for a rising author
According to NielsenIQ BookData from the Electre database, À voix haute has sold copies to date. This follows the significant success of Panassenko's debut.
Born in 1989, Polina Panassenko first gained attention with her 2022 novel Tenir sa langue, also published by l'Olivier. That book won the Prix Femina des lycéens. Sales figures for her two published books show her growing readership.
| Book Title | Format | Publisher | Year | Copies Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenir sa langue | Grand Format | l'Olivier | 2022 | |
| Tenir sa langue | Poche (Paperback) | Points | 2023 | |
| À voix haute | - | Éditions de l'Olivier | 2026 |
The jury behind the prize
The Le Monde literary prize jury comprises 13 journalists from across the newspaper's sections. Jérôme Fenoglio, the director of Le Monde, serves as the jury president. The other members are Jean Birnbaum, Amaury da Cunha, Emmanuel Davidenkoff, Solenn de Royer, Zineb Dryef, Gaëlle Dupont, Clara Georges, Florent Georgesco, Lanwenn Huon, Raphaëlle Leyris, Raphaëlle Rérolle, and Nicolas Weill. All are affiliated with various parts of the publication, including Le Monde des livres, Politics, Planet, and M Le magazine du Monde.
The prize solidifies Panassenko's position as a notable literary voice. Her work continues to explore themes of identity and history across cultures.
