Nordic Translation Grants

Next application deadline is on September 15, 2025

The Icelandic Literature Center awards grants on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers' to cover translation expenses for works which have been published in Iceland and translated from Icelandic into other Nordic languages.

Application deadlines:  15 February and 15 September. 

The application form is available 4 weeks before the next application date. APPLY

To be enclosed with the application:  

• A presentation of the translator´s qualifications and previously translated and published titles.
• A copy of the contract with the Icelandic right´s holder. 
• A copy of the contract with the translator. 
• Three (3) pages of sample text (translation) and a copy of the same text in the original language

How much you may apply for?

• For a maximum of the translation fee agreed with the translator. Usually, however, grants will cover only a proportion of the translation fee.
• The translation grant applies to the translator's base fee, not to royalties or a possible share of earnings from audiobooks or e-books.

Once you have submitted the application

You will be informed of the committee's decision no more than 6 weeks after the deadline. Once all cases from the same deadline have been completed, the result is sent out by email.

When a work has been supported by a translation grant from the Nordic Council of Ministers this must be acknowledged on the title page and on the dust jacket or, in the case of paperback editions, on the back cover.

In all of the above instances the logo of the Nordic Council of Ministers must also be displayed. 

The publisher shall send two copies of the translated work to The Icelandic Literature Center. The publisher shall also send one copy of the translated work to the Nordic Council of Ministers Secretariat, Store Strandstræde 18, DK-1255 Copenhagen K, Denmark and another copy to Nordic House, Sturlugötu 5, 101, Reykjavik, Iceland.

The Nordic translation grants are administered by the Danish Arts Foundation in collaboration with the various national literature centres.

See our previous allocations 

Contacts in the Nordic countries:

Sweden: Swedish Literature Exchange
Denmark: The Danish Arts Foundation
Finland: FILI – Finnish Literature Exchange
Iceland: Icelandic Literature Center
Faroe Islands: FarLit
Greenland: Grenland Writers Association
Sapmi: Sámi Artist Council
Norway: NORLA

• Sweden: Swedish Literature Exchange, +46-8-519 264 83.
Application deadlines: 1.2., 1.5 and 1.11.
For more info: http://www.swedishliterature.se. Direct link here

• Denmark: The Danish Arts Foundation, Agency for Culture and Palaces – Literature & DEFF, +45 3373 3373.
Application deadlines: 2.2. and 2.8.
For more info: www.kunst.dk. Direct link here

• Finland: FILI, +358 40 5820975.
Applications periods: 1.1.-1.2., 1.4.-1.5. and 1.10.-1.11.
For more info: www.finlit.fi/fili. Direct link here

• Iceland: The Icelandic Literature Center, +354 552 8500.
Application deadlines: 15.2. and 15.9.
For more info: www.islit.is/en. Direct link here

• Faroe Islands: Faroese Literature (FarLit).
Application deadlines: 1.4. and 1.10.
For more info: www.farlit.fo/grants

• Greenland: Greenland Writers Association.
Application deadlines: 1.4. and 1.10.
For more info: atuakkiortut.net. Direct link here

• Sapmi: Sámi Artist Council, +47 947 80 451.
Application deadline: 1.4.
For more info: www.samidaiddar.no. Direct link here

• Norway: NORLA.
Application deadlines all genres: 1 February, 1 June, 1 October
For more info: www.norla.no