Atlanta-born author and innovator Kiran Bhat has been honored with the International Writer of the Year 2026 award at a ceremony held at the historic House of Commons. Organizers said he is the first person of Indian origin living outside the United Kingdom to receive the honor. Bhat was recognized for his innovative contributions to novels, poetry, travel writing, multilingual literature, and digital literary projects.
Currently based in Mumbai, Bhat grew up partly in Karnataka, India. He is fluent in 12 languages and has published books in five of them, including We of the Forsaken World, Speaking in Tongues, and Girar. His work has appeared in The Kenyon Review, Prairie Schooner, The Brooklyn Rail, Cordite Poetry Review, and The Caravan.
Having traveled to 177 countries and lived in 25 cities worldwide, Bhat frequently explores themes of migration, identity, language, and belonging. His work challenges traditional literary structures while encouraging readers to embrace broader global perspectives. Beyond his own writing, Bhat curates the Yatha Katha Literature Festival in Mumbai, which amplifies voices from the global south, and serves as co-chair of the Environmental Sustainability Subcommittee of the Global Indian Council.