Chommanard Prize Reaches 15th Edition, Nurturing Thai Women Writers
Thailand's Chommanard Prize celebrates its 15th edition by continuing to amplify women writers' voices, with winners announced October 1st at Bangkok Bank's headquarters. The award has become a gateway for diverse female authors to share un
Winners to be announced on October 1st. The prize creates a platform for women's voices and experiences to reach readers through literature.
Bangkok — The Chommanard Book Prize enters its 15th year, with Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited and Pramuan Sass Publishing Company preparing to announce winners on October 1, 2026, at the bank's head office in Silom. The prize supports Thai women writers and opens space for them to share their thoughts, experiences, and perspectives through literature to a broad audience.
Over its history, the Chommanard Prize has evolved beyond a writing contest into a platform where women writers from diverse backgrounds can share their lived experiences, perspectives, and stories through words, reaching wider and more varied readers.
Janthara Rasameethong, runner-up in the 6th Chommanard Prize for her nonfiction work "The Dream of Chanthana," exemplifies this role. She said: "For many years, people saw me only as a tailor with limited education and wondered how I could ever write a book. But because Chommanard opened its doors to nonfiction, I realized I could transform my life experience into a story. Real experience feels more authentic than fiction. I want to tell others with life experience that those stories can become powerful writing."
Janthara's journey shows how becoming a writer can begin with ordinary experience, and a competition platform can serve as the gateway for those stories to reach readers.
Meanwhile, the prize also allows women writers to explore diverse themes and storytelling styles. Nattcha Leelessakulvong, winner of the 14th Chommanard Prize for "Flee to Free," notes that the platform freed her to tell stories her own way. "Women's writing once faced certain boundaries, but Chommanard shows that great writing doesn't need to be difficult to understand — it just needs to communicate clearly what we want to say. This openness let me tackle themes like disaster and artificial intelligence through sci-fi dystopia. The prize is a free space where women can break old constraints and explore perspectives that may have been overlooked."
The evaluation process prioritizes quality. In the 6th, 7th, and 8th editions, the jury unanimously withheld the top prize when no submission met the required standard, reflecting the prize's commitment to maintaining excellence.
The Chommanard Prize began in 2007 with a mission to fill gaps in previous literary contests and create a dedicated platform specifically to "promote women writers." It was developed with input from leading national experts.
