The Sara Lidman Society

The Sara Lidman Society (Sara Lidman-sällskapet) is a Swedish literary society devoted to the life and work of the author Sara Lidman. It operates as a membership-based cultural organization rather than a commercial company, and its public activities center on literary events, readings, and the promotion of Lidman's legacy. The society maintains an official website at saralidman.se, where it publishes news, event listings, and information about its programs. Among its most visible activities is the Sara Lidman Prize (Sara Lidman-priset), a literary award presented to writers whose work reflects the humanistic and socially engaged spirit associated with Sara Lidman. The society also organizes Sara-dagen, an annual day of events held in Umeå, which has been streamed online in recent years, extending the society's reach beyond its immediate membership. The society's programming is rooted in Swedish literary culture and often highlights authors who address minority rights, social justice, and human rights themes. Through its prize, its events, and its online presence, the Sara Lidman Society functions as a custodian of Lidman's literary heritage and as a platform for contemporary writing that engages with the questions she explored in her own work.

The Sara Lidman Society is a Swedish literary society dedicated to the author Sara Lidman. It is described in public records as a Swedish literary society, and its activities are documented on its official website, saralidman.se. The society's work centers on commemorating Lidman's literary and civic legacy through events, awards, and information services for members and the public. A central element of the society's activity is the Sara Lidman Prize (Sara Lidman-priset), which it awards to writers whose work embodies the humanistic and socially engaged qualities associated with Sara Lidman. In the 2026 cycle, the prize was awarded to author Balsam Karam, born in 1983 and raised in Iran with roots in the Kurdish minority, who came to Sweden in the early 1990s. The society's citation highlighted Karam's engagement with minority and human rights issues, her stance for the Palestinian people, and the passionate resistance and commitment that also characterized Sara Lidman. The society also organizes Sara-dagen, an annual day of events held in Umeå. The 2025 edition took place in Umeå, and the 2026 edition was streamed live, with the recording made available afterward. These events serve as gathering points for readers, writers, and others interested in Lidman's legacy and in contemporary literature that engages with social and political questions. Through its website, the society publishes news, event schedules, and information about the prize and its laureates. Its programming reflects an ongoing commitment to literature as a form of social engagement, echoing themes in Lidman's own writing. The society operates as a cultural association rather than a commercial enterprise, and its public profile rests on its prize, its events, and its role as a focal point for the appreciation of Sara Lidman's work in Sweden.

• Sara-dagen 2025 held in Umeå

• Balsam Karam awarded the Sara Lidman Prize 2026

• Sara-dagen 2026 streamed live from Umeå

A non-commercial Swedish literary society preserving and promoting the legacy of author Sara Lidman through a prize, events, and public programming.

• Sara Lidman Prize

  A literary prize awarded by the society to writers whose work reflects humanistic and socially engaged values.

• Sara-dagen

  An annual day of literary events held in Umeå, streamed online in recent years.

1. 1Sara Lidman – sällskapet – Sara Lidman sällskapetsaralidman.se
2. 2The Sara Lidman Society – Wikidatawikidata.org