The novel Grand Prince by Alexia Stresi (Flammarion) was named the winner of the Nice Baie des Anges Prize 2026 on Monday, May 11 at Villa Masséna in Nice. A press conference that also presented the 30th edition of the Nice Book Festival.
Every year since 1996, this prize has distinguished a novel published in the twelve months preceding the festival. The jury, chaired by Franz-Olivier Giesbert (absent on Monday for transport reasons) brings together several writers, journalists and passionate readers. The announcement of the winners was ultimately made by writer Didier van Cauwelaert, a jury member.
“Grand Prince”, a luminous novel
Among the eight works selected this year, it was Grand Prince by Alexia Stresi that convinced the jury. According to Didier van Cauwelaert, the novel stood out for its tone and energy. The story follows an 85-year-old heroine whose life seems to be declining before an unexpected event comes to turn her destiny upside down.
“It is a book of joy, a source of happiness,” summarized the writer at the announcement. The novel explores the ability to bounce back in the face of hardship and features characters who find answers to their difficulties through meetings and the perspectives of others.
The jury also highlighted the uniqueness of this elderly heroine, still a rare figure in contemporary literature. The novel prevailed after several rounds of voting, notably against Retour de Lombarde by Pascal Ruter and Combustion by François Gagey. The official presentation of the prize will take place on May 29, at the opening of the Book Festival.
An anniversary edition placed under the sign of transmission
This announcement also marked the launch of the 30th edition of the Nice Book Festival, which will run from May 29 to 31 in Albert I Garden. For this anniversary edition, the presidency of the festival has been entrusted to academician Antoine Compagnon, professor at the Collège de France and specialist in French literature. The theme chosen this year, “transmission“, reflects the desire to recall the essential role of books in understanding the world and in the transmission of knowledge.
During his remarks, Eric Ciotti emphasized the importance of reading at a time when cultural habits are evolving. The mayor notably evoked concerns related to the decline in cognitive abilities among young generations, which he attributes in part to the reduction in time spent reading in favor of screens and social media. According to him, the festival should help revive the love of reading and restore literature to the center of cultural life.
Over 200 authors expected in Nice
More than 200 writers are expected in Nice for this new edition of the festival, which has established itself over the decades as one of the major French literary events. Among the announced authors are notably Delphine de Vigan, Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, Pierre Assouline and Christophe Ono-dit-Biot. The festival will also host several meetings, lectures and signing sessions, as well as a short story competition for young authors, open from primary school classes to preparatory classes.
For Didier van Cauwelaert, this program perfectly illustrates the spirit of the festival: to transmit the love of writing and fiction to new generations. “When you see the joy of these young aspiring writers who discover their text published and sign it for the first time, it’s an extraordinary moment of sharing,” he concluded.
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