Kuwait city: The second edition of the Sheikh Yusuf bin Issa Cultural Award has been launched, aiming to honor and encourage institutions and individuals to publish cultural, literary, and scientific works that contribute to enriching the cultural movement in Kuwait and the Arab world. The award also seeks to highlight prominent publications in the fields of literature and the humanities, thereby enhancing Kuwait’s position on the Arab and international publishing map and as a hub for knowledge and creativity.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the award’s second edition includes three categories: Literature (Novel), Humanities (Sociology, Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Digital Humanities), and the Cultural Personality of the Year category, which is dedicated to individuals or institutions working in the local or Arab cultural field.

The first edition saw the participation of 532 books from 32 countries, distributed across 390 works in the Literature (Novel) category, 79 works in the History category, and 63 works in the Education category. The award announced its longlists in November 2025, its shortlists in February 2026, and the winners in April 2026.

The Board of Trustees is chaired by Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Sultan, with members including Professor Faisal Ali Abdulwahab Al-Mutawa, Dr. Yasmine Fawzi Al-Saleh, Dr. Suleiman Al-Askari, Sheikha Maryam Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem, Mohammed Al-Sheikh, Yousef Bin Issa, and Abdulwahab Aref Al-Issa. The Executive Council includes Yousef Shamlan Al-Issa, and the Secretary-General of the Award, Buthaina Al-Issa.

The award is overseen by Takween Library and Publications in Kuwait, and submissions are accepted through the award’s website, from July 20, 2026, to September 20, 2026.