Gibraltar Cultural Services has announced a partnership with The Carnegies, with 2026 winners Beth O’Brien and Kate Rolfe set to attend this year’s Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival.

A statement from GCS follows below:

Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS), on behalf of the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, is delighted to confirm that The Carnegies has partnered with this year's Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival 2026. 

The Carnegies are the UK’s longest running and best loved children’s book awards, run by library and information association, CILIP. It recognises outstanding reading experiences created through writing and illustration in books for children and young people. As part of the partnership, Gibraltar was involved in the recent Shadowing Scheme empowering the next generations to create a better world through books and reading. Additionally, the partnership will also see the two winners in the writing and illustration categories invited to Gibraltar for the Gibunco Literary Festival.  

GCS can confirm that this years winners, Beth O’Brien and Kate Rolfe will be joining the festival line up for November.  

Beth O’Brien is the recipient of The Carnegie Medal for Writing 2026 which is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. Her book, ‘Wolf Siren’ is a vibrant, evocative, bewitching magic and prose that centres a positive, empowered disabled character at the heart of a reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood. Beth, like the main character in the book, is visually impaired and passionate about the positive representation of disability in contemporary fiction.  

Beth has also won the Shadowers’ Choice Award for Writing, as voted for by children and young people across the country shadowing the award. 

Kate Rolfe is the recipient of The Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2026 which is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people. Her book, ‘Wiggling Words’ is an inspiring story that will resonate with every child especially those with dyslexia. It shows how every child can solve problems and gain confidence. 

On behalf of The Carnegies, Sonia Ramdhian, Chief Development Officer at CILIP said: “The Carnegies Shadowing scheme offers a unique opportunity for children and young people to engage with outstanding books and experience a national book award from the inside, so we’re excited to have our 2026 Carnegie Medal winners attend the Gibraltar Literary Festival later this year to meet some of the pupils who have been shadowing the awards for the past few months. Beth O’Brien and Kate Rolfe are two incredibly talented storytellers, and we know they’ll be an inspirational addition to the festival programme.”

Minister for Culture and Tourism, The Hon. Christian Santos GMD MP said: “I am thrilled we have partnered with The Carnegies and am looking forward to welcoming Beth and Kate to the Literary Festival in November. As Minister for Equality also, I am excited to endorse their particular books as they positively represent disabilities. Encouraging all children to read, write and get involved in literature is part of the ethos of the Festival. Children are the future in the arts and must be encouraged and supported on their creative journeys”. 

Chief Cultural Officer and Festival Director, Seamus Byrne, represented the Ministry at the recent Carnegie Awards Ceremony, held at the Cambridge Theatre in the West End, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi award-winning Matilda The Musical, which is now celebrating 15 years. 

The festival will be organised from the 9th to 15th November 2026. For further information please contact the Festival Director on telephone: 20047309 or email: [email protected]