NEA Translation Project Fellowships Program (United States)

Translation projects should be of interest for their literary excellence and merit. They encourage projects that feature languages, perspectives, and writers that are not well represented in English, as well as work that has not previously been translated into English. This program seeks to strengthen the literary arts ecosystem by supporting translators at various stages of their careers and broadening the scope of global literature available in English. The NEA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and fostering mutual support for the diverse beliefs and values of all individuals and groups.

Funding Information

• Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $25,000. Award amounts are determined by the National Endowment for the Arts.
• The support for a project may begin any time between January 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027, and may extend for up to two years.

What they do not fund? 

• Individuals who previously have received three or more literature fellowships from the NEA (any combination of Creative Writing Fellowships (in prose or poetry) and/or Translation Project Fellowships).
• Individuals who have received any Creative Writing Literature Fellowship (in prose or poetry) from the NEA since January 1, 2020 or any Translation Fellowship from the NEA since January 1, 2022.
• Applicants applying with the same translation project for more than three consecutive years.
• Scholarly writing (Writers who are engaged in scholarly work may wish to contact the National Endowment for the Humanities).
• Work toward academic degrees.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individual translators who meet the publication requirements are eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
• The NEA will reject ineligible applications without panel review.
• An individual may submit only one application for FY 2026 Literature Fellowships funding. You may not apply for both a Translation Project Fellowship at this deadline (January 16, 2025) and a Creative Writing Fellowship in Prose at the March 2025 deadline.
• You are eligible to apply if you, alone or in collaboration, have:
  • Published a total of at least 20 pages of translations of creative literature into English in curated digital or print formats such as literary magazines, anthologies, or books; or
  • Published a translation into English of a novel or a volume of at least 20 pages of fiction, poetry, drama, or belles-lettres (creative nonfiction, criticism, and essays); or
  • Had published, presented, or produced by a professional theater company at least one full-length play that you translated into English.

For more information, visit National Endowment for the Arts.