President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska took part in the ceremony presenting the 2026 Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine.
This year the Shevchenko Prize has expanded, and the number of nominations has increased to 13 for the first time in its history. The nominations “Creative Curatorship of Cultural and Artistic Projects,” “Photography,” and “Design” were added. The nomination “Literature” was replaced by “Prose” and “Poetry,” while the musical field was expanded with the nomination “Concert and Performing Arts.” The corresponding decree was signed by the President of Ukraine in July 2025, and today the first laureates received the prizes in these nominations.
“We have things to be proud of. We have people to be proud of. And the Shevchenko Prize proves this. Every year it takes place despite the war, despite everything. And despite everything, every year there are new deserving laureates. This award has not become a formality, and in every sense of the word it is growing – there are more nominations, more remarkable works, more reasons to be proud of our art and our creators,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
The Head of State noted that this year the Shevchenko Prize is special not only because we mark its anniversary – 65 years – but also because the ceremony is taking place at a time of very powerful emotions that unite all of Ukraine.
“What a difficult and long winter it was. And we overcame it. How much we all longed for this spring. And finally the warmth has come – and these feelings that Ukraine made it, that Ukraine preserved itself, that Ukraine endured. I want to thank our warriors – thank you,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
According to the President, spring is also coming to Ukrainian culture and art, which are interesting to millions, stylish, modern, fashionable, vibrant, and dynamic.
“And when today Ukrainian music unites all our people – on the frontline, across the entire country – when it is impossible to get tickets to our Ukrainian theaters and there are lines at museums, at our exhibitions, for our Ukrainian books, all of this is very inspiring,” the Head of State emphasized.
Yevhen Nyshchuk, Chairman of the Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine Committee, noted that today art is becoming an important means of psychological support and helps society process the experience of war. That is why expanding the nominations corresponds to the challenges of today.
“This is truly very important. Because the new directions that have appeared, alongside those traditionally established in the canonical perception, are extremely relevant precisely in wartime,” Yevhen Nyshchuk said.
For the first time, the Taras Shevchenko National Prize in the nomination “Photography” was awarded to photographer Olena Hrom for the photo project Stolen Spring.
In another new nomination – "Creative Curatorship of Cultural and Artistic Projects" – the award for the exhibition project "Alla Horska. Boryviter" was received by the curators of this exhibition Tetiana Hauk, Olena Hrozovska, Mykhailo Kulivnyk, Kateryna Lisova, and the exhibition designer Daria Podoltseva. Another winner in this nomination for the cultural and artistic project "30x30. Contemporary Ukrainian Art" was its curator, art critic Valeriy Sakharuk.
Conductor, artistic director of the P. Maiboroda Academic Choir of Ukrainian Radio Yulia Tkach received the country's highest creative award in the "Concert and Performing Arts" nomination for the media project "One Step to Victory," artistic cycles "Figures," "Meeting of Eras," concert programs, and archival recordings from 2020–2025.
Diplomat, writer, and scholar Yuri Shcherbak became a laureate of the Shevchenko Prize in the "Prose" nomination for the book of summaries and prophecies "Dead Memory. Voices and Cries," and writer Pavlo Beliansky for the novel "To Fight Cannot Retreat."
The award in the "Publicism and Journalism" nomination was received by writer and journalist Oleh Kryshtopa for the documentary novel "Radio 'Aphrodite'."
In the nomination “Literary Studies and Art Criticism,” the prize was awarded to art historian Olesia Avramenko for her popular scholarly works on art from the author’s Accent series – three books: "Bilokur," "Prykhodko," "Tistol." In the same nomination, film critic, film scholar, and screenwriter Serhiy Trymbach received the prize for the book "Ivan Mykolaichuk. Mysteries of Fate."
Director Oksana Dmitrieva was the winner in the "Theater Arts" nomination for the performances "Vertep," "Mons Giraffe" of the Kharkiv State Academic Puppet Theater named after V. A. Afanasiev, "The Tempest" of the Maria Zankovetska National Academic Ukrainian Drama Theater, "Medea" of the Ivan Franko Ivano-Frankivsk National Academic Theater.
The National Prize in the "Cinematic Arts" nomination was received by the scriptwriter and director of the film "U Are the Universe" Pavlo Ostrykov.
The laureate of the award in the "Decorative and Applied Arts" nomination for a series of artistic works of Ukrainian glass from the art project "Born in Fire" was the master of artistic glass Ihor Matsiievskyi.
In the "Visual Arts" nomination, sculptor Nazar Bilyk received the award for creating the "Memorial to Ukrainian Intelligence Officers," a series of sculptures "Disturbed Space," "Alloy."
