Botnia literary prize goes to a comic for the first time

Aapo Kukko has won the 2026 Botnia literary prize for his comic Red Beethoven, Yle reports. It is the first time the award has gone to a comic.

Nearly 450 pages long, the book tells the story of Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich and his contemporaries, exploring the relationship between art and power. The tension between Shostakovich and Joseph Stalin is central to the work.

Kukko, a comic artist based in Oulu, spent 10 years completing the book. He said he was inspired after reading Shostakovich’s memoirs, translated into Finnish by music critic Seppo Heikinheimo. Writing the script and drawing the illustrations took five years.

Red Beethoven has also attracted international interest. An Estonian edition is due next year, and editions in several other languages may follow.

The jury considered 145 books this year and selected eight finalists. The Oulu Writers’ Association has awarded the Botnia prize since 2017. It is open to fiction and non-fiction, including books for children and young people, as well as comics. Eligible authors must work in North Ostrobothnia or come from the region. The prize is worth 15,000 euros.