New prize honouring Sareeta Domingo aims to support under-represented writers

A new literary prize named after the late author and publishing director Sareeta Domingo has been launched for unpublished writers from Black and Global Majority backgrounds.

The Sareeta Domingo Prize was announced on 4 June at a reception at Hachette UK's Carmelite House in London. The award has been founded by bestselling author Dorothy Koomson in partnership with Domingo's family, Hachette UK, Jacaranda Books and literary agency David Higham Associates (DHA).

The prize will be run through Hachette UK's Future Bookshelf scheme and is free to enter.

According to organisers, the award was created in honour of Domingo, who died in 2025. Koomson said the prize was intended to recognise Domingo's contribution as both an author and publishing professional, while continuing her work supporting new writers.

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Submissions open on 8 June and close at midnight on 21 September. The winner will be announced on 25 January 2027.

Prize package and judging panel

The winner will receive £2,500, while a highly commended entrant will receive £1,500.

In addition to the cash awards, the prize package includes coaching, editorial guidance, potential literary representation and a place on a Goldsboro Writing Academy course. Organisers have stated that there are no restrictions on genre or theme.

The judging panel will be chaired by Koomson and includes Magdalene Abraha, publishing director at Jacaranda Books; Valerie Brandes, founder and chief executive of Jacaranda Books; author and editor Sara Jafari; literary agent Lizzy Kremer of David Higham Associates; and Anna Valentine, managing director of Orion Publishing Group.

At the launch, Valentine said the initiative was intended to honour Domingo's legacy and support new storytellers. Brandes said the books Domingo acquired during her time at Jacaranda reflected her editorial vision and described the partnership behind the prize as an opportunity to continue recognising emerging writers.

Domingo was an author and publishing director at Jacaranda Books. The prize is the latest initiative established in her memory following her death in 2025.