The Prix Littéraire René Pechère honours, every two years, a remarkable work dedicated to gardens, landscapes and nature. Created in 2008 in tribute to René Pechère, the great Belgian master of garden architecture, it distinguishes authors whose work contributes to enhancing the art of gardens, their history, their imaginative world and their role in our culture.
The 2026 edition of the Prize is organised in partnership with the European Institute of Gardens and Landscapes, thereby strengthening the Prize’s European dimension and the shared commitment to promoting the garden as a place of culture, transmission and creation.
Jury President: Marco Martella
In 2026, the Jury President is Marco Martella. Born in Rome and now based in France, his erudition is expressed through a double life as writer and gardener that crosses genre boundaries. At the crossroads of essay and fiction, his work explores the intimate bond between man, landscape and time, tracing a cartography of places that hold our memory (Jardin perdu, Jardins en temps de guerre, Un petit monde, un monde parfait, Fleurs). At the heart of his work and his life, the spirit of place becomes a compass: creation of a journal, Jardins (2010), and institutional commitment to making green spaces into places of culture and encounter. Marco Martella is the laureate of the Prix René Pechère 2024.
Jury Composition
The 2026 jury is composed of: Nicole d’Huart (BE), Nathalie de Harlez (BE), Bénédicte Duthion, Iris Lauterbach, Alexandre Chemetoff (FR), Michael Jakob (FR) and Jacques Moulin (FR).
2026 Timeline
January – March 2026: Formation of the reading committee and submission of entries
June 2026: Announcement of shortlisted works
September 2026: Invitations sent for the official Prize ceremony
October 2026: Official award ceremony of the Prix Littéraire René Pechère 2026 (date and venue to be confirmed)
25 November 2026: Evening in Paris — surprise programme reserved for our friends and patrons
Exceptional visits
As part of the 2026 edition, the Comité René Pechère is organising exceptional visits whose programme will be revealed shortly.
⭐ Friends and patrons of the Comité René Pechère will have first priority to reserve their places. Don’t miss this exclusive advantage — join us or renew your support to benefit from it.
For more information or to join the patrons’ circle: support us.
Partners & Sponsors
The Comité René Pechère invites companies and institutions with an affinity for culture and nature to join the partners of the Prix Littéraire René Pechère 2026. Three partnership packages are available:
- Golden Partnership (5,000 €) — Sector exclusivity, logo in first position, speaking opportunity at the ceremony, 10 invitations, 5 shortlisted books
- Silver Partnership (2,500 €) — Logo in second position, 5 invitations, 3 shortlisted books
- Bronze Partnership (1,000 €) — Logo in third position, 1 shortlisted book
For any information on partnership opportunities, please contact Michel Grossmann, public relations manager of the Comité René Pechère: 0477 337 302.
Organisers & Institutional Partners
The Prix Littéraire René Pechère 2026 is organised by the Comité René Pechère in partnership with CIVA (Centre International pour la Ville, l’Architecture et le Paysage) and the European Institute of Gardens and Landscapes, with the support of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.