The Gdynia Literary Prize (Polish: Nagroda Literacka Gdynia) is a Polish award given each year to authors who write the best books published the year before. These books are in the categories of prose, poetry, essays, and translations (added in 2014).

The prize was created in 2006 by Wojciech Szczurek, the mayor of Gdynia. He said, "The goal of the Gdynia Literary Prize is to recognize the special work of modern Polish writers. This will help encourage more effort in literature and art."

A list of people who are being considered for the prize is shared in May during the International Book Fair in Warsaw. The winners are announced in June at a special event in Gdynia called the Grand Gala. They receive a statue called the "Literature Cube" and 50,000 PLN. Since 2008, the Grand Gala has also included events called Literaturomanie Days of the Gdynia Literary Prize. In October and November, there are meetings where winners of the prize talk with the public.

The Public City Library (Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna) in Gdynia publishes a magazine called Literary Supplement and the Gdynia Literary Prize Newspaper.

Chapter

The choices of nominees and winners are made by members of the GLP Chapter, who are well-known experts. The members include Agata Bielik-Robson, Marek Bieńczyk, Jerzy Jarniewicz, Zbigniew Kruszyński, Małgorzata Łukasiewicz, Aleksander Nawarecki, Violetta Trella (the Chapter’s secretary), and Piotr Śliwiński (the chairman).

In previous years, the members included Alina Brodzka-Wald, Piotr Sommer, Paweł Śpiewak, and Elżbieta Gwiazdowska (the Chapter’s secretary).

Prize winners

Eugeniusz Tkaczyszyn-Dycki received the GLP 2009 Prize in Poetry. Maria Poprzęcka received the GLP 2009 Prize in Essay. Marcin Świetlicki received the GLP 2009 Prize in Prose.

„Literaturomanie” Days of Gdynia Literary Prize

The “Literaturomanie” Days of the Gdynia Literary Prize is the full name of a two-day festival that began in 2008. It is the first major annual literary event in the Tricity area. The festival is for people who enjoy high culture in different types of writing, such as poetry, prose, essays, and commentary. Its purpose is to bring together audiences and well-known authors who share similar interests in modern literature. Invited guests participate in discussions with each other and with the audience about important topics. Prominent critics and journalists from supporting media ensure that the debates are fair and well-organized.

The program for “Literaturomanie” 2008 included many events, such as:

• Author. Author! – meetings with famous Polish authors, including Wiesław Myśliwski, Eustachy Rylski, Leszek Szaruga, and Jacek Żakowski.
• Literary Debates of “Gdynia” – meetings with book nominees and readings of parts of their works.
• Gdynia Drama Prize – showing parts of winning plays and talking with the authors.
• Music Event – free performances called “Świetliki.”
• Open Tournament of One Poem – a competition where poets perform their work, judged by Wojciech Boros, Wojciech Bonowicz, and Tadeusz Dąbrowski. Past winners include Patryk Dziczek, Joanna Herman, and Natalia Malek.
• Special Movie Screenings – showing films and meeting their creators, such as “Jegomość Tischner i jego filozofia po góralsku” by Witold Bereś and Artur Więcek.
• Second-Book Fair – a place to find collections of notable works.
• Gdynia Literary Prize Vademecum – a book stand where books by nominees can be bought and signed with dedications.
• Poetry Workshops – free classes for 10–15 people, led by past prize winners like Wojciech Bonowicz.

The festival also included open debates with guests such as Stefan Chwin, Piotr Kłoczowski, Stanisław Rosiek, Krzysztof Środa, and Jacek Żakowski.

In 2009, the program took place on June 12–13 and included events like:

• Author. Author! – meetings with Polish authors, including Hanna Krall, led by Paweł Huelle and Janusz Głowacki.
• Gdynia zaczytana – a photography exhibition.
• Gdynia Literary Prize Vademecum – a book stand for nominees’ works.
• Literary Debates of “Gdynia” – meetings with nominees, led by critics and journalists in poetry, prose, and essays.
• pl:Mumio – a performance and meeting with the group.
• Open Tournament of One Poem – the third edition, judged by Leszek Szaruga, Anna Sobecka, and Wojciech Boros.
• Prose Workshops – free, two-day classes for 10 people, led by Leszek Szaruga.
• Second-Book Fair – a place to find notable collections.
• Two Decades of Polish Literature – a debate about Polish literature after 1989, with participants including Przemysław Czapliński, Ewa Graczyk, and Marek Zaleski, chaired by Dariusz Bugalski.

Events also included meetings with authors like Hanna Krall, Paweł Huelle, and Janusz Głowacki, as well as performances and exhibitions held at the Witold Gombrowicz Municipal Theatre in Gdynia.

The Autumn Meetings with Winners of the Gdynia Literary Prize

The Autumn Meetings with Winners of the Gdynia Literary Prize (Jesienne Spotkania z Laureatami Nagrody Literackiej Gdynia) is an event held in October and November. It helps people who love culture and art meet the winners of the Gdynia Literary Prize.

Autumn Meetings with the "Literaturomanie" Days of the Gdynia Literary Prize are places where the audience can join casual conversations about literature and hear interpretations of the winners’ books.

• Adam Wiedemann – poetry prizewinner
• Piotr Matywiecki – essay prizewinner
• Marian Pankowski – prose prizewinner
• Interpretations by Krzysztof Majchrzak