The 2026 Dhahan Prize Ceremonies

The Dhahan Prize is celebrating its thirteenth year!

Join us for:

• A sit-down, buffet-style dinner gala

• Keynote address by poet Harman Kaur

• A musical performance

• The awarding of a $25K CAD prize for a winning Punjabi book, two finalist prizes of $10K CAD each, plus $6K CAD for the transliteration of winning books

• The awarding of 8 youth awards

• A meet and greet with this year's winning authors, along with business and community members

• The proclaiming of Punjabi Literature week by local governments

• The chance to buy signed copies of winning books, local students' Punjabi stories and more.

Attire: formal businesswear. Formal cultural attire is ok! (e.g. Punjabi suits)

About this event:

The 2026 Dhahan Prize Ceremonies will honour three works of Punjabi fiction in both Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi scripts. One main winner is awarded $25,000 CAD and two finalists are awarded $10,000 CAD each. An additional $6,000 CAD is awarded for the transliteration of winning books into Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi.

220 attendees are expected.

2025 - 2026 Sponsors:

Royal Bank of Canada Foundation (Presenting Sponsor)

RBC, Dominion Securities – Harj & Darshan Grewal

G.L. Smith Planning and Design Inc.

Canada-India Education Society

2025 - 2026 Youth Award Sponsors:

Coast Capital Savings

Tim Hortons

Canada-India Education Society

Media partner:

OMNI TV

Date: November 18, 2026

Time: 6 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.

Place: Northview Golf & Country Club, 6857 168 Street Surrey, BC V3S 3T6

Find on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/AkYsjLEdVYhahMWM6