36 Writers Honoured at Golden Point Award 2025, Showcasing the Next Wave of Singapore Literature

The Golden Point Award (GPA) 2025 has unveiled its 36 winners across short stories, poetry, and, for the second time, translated works of local short fiction. Now in its 17th edition, the biennial competition is organised by Arts House Group (AHG), co-managed with the Singapore Book Council (SBC), and supported by the National Arts Council (NAC).

This year saw a significantly expanded pool of submissions across all four official languages, English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, signalling a growing appetite for literary expression. According to the 2023 Population Survey on the Arts, 78% of respondents believe the arts, including literature, help express thoughts and emotions. The latest GPA entries reflect this sentiment with rich, diverse works that reinforce the award’s role in championing new voices and cross-cultural creativity.

Readers can look forward to excerpts of the winning works on the GPA website, along with a special video presentation featuring first-prize entries.

A Celebration of Storytelling Across Generations

The 2025 winners impressed judges with originality, emotional resonance and linguistic finesse. From intimate stories exploring identity and belonging to imaginative retellings of everyday life, the winning works showcase the breadth of Singapore’s literary talent. The translation category stood out for its sensitive interpretations, bringing new life to local stories while honouring their cultural roots.

This year’s competition also drew a wide mix of participants, from first-time writers to seasoned creatives and student talents, underscoring GPA’s continued commitment to nurturing emerging voices. Many entries drew upon personal memories, folklore, and contemporary issues, affirming literature’s place as a space for reflection and meaningful dialogue.

The winners will be officially celebrated on 9 January 2026 at The Arts House at the Old Parliament. The ceremony is part of VERSE 2026, AHG’s annual literary arts programme that brings together writers, publishers, and readers through performances, readings and conversations.

Mentorship, Opportunities and a Pathway Into the Literary Community

Beyond cash prizes and gifts, all top winners will enter a four-month mentorship programme with established writers and industry professionals. AHG aims to provide not only recognition but also long-term support through publication opportunities, promotion, and professional development.

For the first time, winners will also receive Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) passes and vouchers, further connecting them with the literary community and fostering deeper engagement with Singapore’s vibrant writing scene.

Spotlighting Exceptional Achievements

This year’s competition saw two standout double winners.

• Tan Kai Yik clinched first place in both Chinese Poetry and Chinese Short Story, demonstrating remarkable versatility across genres.
• Nur Muhammad Hidayat Bin Nordin secured both first prize and Honourable Mention in Malay Short Story, highlighting his strong creative presence in the Malay literary scene.

The GPA also celebrates the promise of young writers.

• N Remila, winner of Tamil Poetry, is in her first year at Victoria Junior College.
• In English Poetry, first prize went to Tan Jia Yan, while S Sanjana Rajan earned Honourable Mention, both law students whose achievements signal a bright future for Singapore’s literary landscape.