Michael Rosen Secures 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award Amid Brexit Passport Snag

Michael Rosen, celebrated poet and author of titles such as We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and Chocolate Cake, has been awarded the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award in recognition of his lifelong impact on children’s literature.

The accolade makes him the fourth Briton to receive the honor, joining the ranks of Eleanor Farjeon, Aidan Chambers and David Almond.

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) praised Rosen’s work for echoing the rhythms of children’s language, blending playfulness with emotional depth and social awareness. IBBY highlighted his ability to foster empathy and spark conversations about history, family, loss, identity and society across poetry, novels and non‑fiction.

The companion illustration prize was bestowed upon Chinese artist Cai Gao, whose distinctive visual language and high artistic quality expand the possibilities of children’s illustration. Past illustration laureates include Quentin Blake, who won in 2002.

Rosen missed the award announcement at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair after being denied boarding on a flight from Stansted to Bologna due to post‑Brexit passport regulations. The rule requires UK passports to have been issued within the previous ten years and to retain at least three months’ validity on the day of departure.

He later posted on X (formerly Twitter), noting the irony of being turned away because his passport was issued in March 2016 despite an expiry in August 2026, calling it a “Brexit benefit”.

Despite the setback, Rosen received a call from an Italian woman informing him of his win, which he described as a “happy ending”.

From a pool of 78 candidates across 44 countries, the jury evaluated the “distinctive literary and artistic qualities” of each entrant and their capacity to view the world through a child’s eyes. The formal award ceremony is slated for August in Ottawa.