Slovenian literature is celebrated throughout the year by numerous awards focusing on various literary forms. Among the most important awards are the Kresnik Award for the best Slovenian novel; Veronika and Jenko Awards for the best poetry collections; Grum Award for the best new Slovenian play; and Rožanc Award for the best collection of essays. Even more prestigious are the Prešeren Award and Prešeren Foundation Awards – the highest national awards in the field of arts – that are presented to at least one literary author every year. In addition to prizes awarded to Slovenian authors, the Vilenica festival confers the Vilenica International Literary Prize on a Central European author for outstanding achievement in literature.
Each year since 1947, on the 8 February national cultural holiday which commemorates the anniversary of the death of Slovene Romantic poet and liberal mind France Prešeren, the Prešeren Award (the so-called Grand Prešeren Award) is bestowed on one or two eminent Slovene artists. On the same day the Prešeren Foundation Awards are awarded to up to six artists. These are the highest national awards in the field of arts, selected and granted by the Prešeren Foundation.
