Sarah Gilmartin Selected for the International Writing Program 2026 Fall Residency
Dublin UNESCO City of Literature and Dublin City Council are delighted to announce that writer Sarah Gilmartin has been selected to participate in the International Writing Program’s 2026 Fall Residency at the University of Iowa, taking place from August to October 2026.
Each year, UNESCO Cities of Literature may nominate one writer for the prestigious residency. From this year’s international nominations, four writers were selected for the 2026 programme.
On receiving news of her selection, Sarah Gilmartin said:
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I'm thrilled to have been selected for this prestigious residency. Ireland has a long history with the university and the International Writing Programme and I'm proud to be part of it. At this stage of my career, I think I will benefit greatly from the programme. I look forward to living in Iowa, immersing myself in the culture of the university and the town, and of course getting to know the other writers from around the world
Dublin City Librarian Mairead Owens said:
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After consulting with our literary partners to identify a writer who would most benefit from attending the International Writing Program’s Fall Residency at this stage in their career, the writer and arts journalist Sarah Gilmartin was selected from a strong field of nominees. We are delighted that she will represent Dublin UNESCO City of Literature at this prestigious residency.
Sarah Gilmartin’s short fiction has appeared in The Dublin Review, The Tangerine and The Stinging Fly. She won the Máirtín Crawford Short Story Award in 2020. Her novels Dinner Party: A Tragedy (2021), Service (2023), and Little Vanities (2026) are published by Pushkin Press. She was the 2025 Arts Council Writer-in-Residence at Dublin City University.
The International Writing Program at the University of Iowa hosts the world’s oldest and largest multinational writing residency, bringing emerging and established writers together for an eleven-week cultural exchange in Iowa City. The fully funded programme supports participants’ professional development; advances their understanding of creative writing, literature, publishing, and facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration.
Iowa City became the first UNESCO City of Literature in the United States in 2008. Notable International Writing Program alumni include Nobel Prize in Literature laureates Orhan Pamuk of Turkey, Mo Yan of China and Han Kang of South Korea.
Léigh, Breathnaigh, Éist
The Artist and the City
Dublin By Night
5th Annual Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Lecture
The Long Gaze Back
