The International Publishers Association (IPA) has officially opened the call for nominations for the 2025 IPA Prix Voltaire, a prestigious award recognizing exemplary courage in upholding the freedom to publish. The award ceremony will take place at the World Expression Forum (WEXFO) in Lillehammer, Norway, on June 2-3, 2025.
The IPA Prix Voltaire honors publishers who have demonstrated remarkable bravery in the face of threats, harassment, or imprisonment, ensuring that authors can share their ideas freely. The award underscores the critical importance of the freedom to publish, a principle that remains under constant threat worldwide.
Kristenn Einarsson, Managing Director of WEXFO and Chair of the IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee, said: “We look forward to receiving nominations about these publishers so that we can celebrate their bravery and inspire others to stand up for the freedom to publish, the freedom of expression and the freedom to read.”
Nominations are open to any individual, group, or organization wishing to recognize a publisher who has recently published controversial works under pressure or has a long-standing record of defending the freedom to publish. The deadline for nominations is February 23, 2025. Nominations are to be submitted by email using the application form to the IPA at prix-voltaire@internationalpublishers.org.
The recipient of the 2025 IPA Prix Voltaire will receive 10,000 Swiss francs, funded by sponsors including Albert Bonniers Förlag (Sweden), Holtzbrinck (Germany), Penguin Random House (UK and USA), and C.H.Beck (Germany).
Take part in WEXFO 2025 to celebrate the courage and dedication of publishers worldwide who champion the freedom to publish.
