The May Star Poetry Prize was presented at the National Library on Wednesday, May 24. The Icelandic Writers' Association is sponsoring the prize together with the National Library of Iceland – University Library.

The May Star for Poetry Book of the Year 2022 will be awarded to Bergþóra Snæbjörnsdóttir for the book Allt sem rennur.

The jury's comment on the award book states:

"The poems in Allt sem rennur may seem like rough fragments of reality, but they form a beautiful whole that compels the reader not only to look at reality with new eyes, but also at themselves, and to confront both. They are impressive on their own, standing as quick snapshots, searing narratives, beautiful original images that form a vast whole. Here the poet achieves a unique connection with the reader in a powerful and illuminating way. Allt sem rennur is a work that bears blatant witness to the magic of poetry."

Bergþóra Snæbjörnsdóttir was born in 1985 and grew up on Úlfljótsvatn in Grafning. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and writing from the University of Iceland and a master's degree in practical cultural communication from the same institution.

Her first poetry book Daloon dagar was published in 2011. In 2017 she published the poetry book Flórída , which was nominated for the Icelandic Literature Prize and the May Star, among other awards. The novel Svínshöfuð was then published in the fall of 2019 and was nominated for the Icelandic Literature Prize in addition to receiving the Fjöruverðun and the Bóksala Prize for best novel. The most recent collection of poetry, Allt sem rennur, was published in the fall of 2022 by Benedikt bókaútgáfa. Excerpts from her books have been translated and published in various books and magazines around the world.

In addition to her writing, Bergþóra has created performances in collaboration with visual artist Rakel McMahon under the banner of Wunderkind Collective, and their works have been shown at various festivals and art events in Iceland and Europe.

Bergþóra lives and works in Reykjavík and is married to the writer Bragi Páll Sigurðarson. Together they have children Úrsúla and Eggert.

All published Icelandic poetry books of the year 2022 that were returned to the National Library of Iceland – University Library were eligible for consideration and were presented to a jury for consideration. The jury consists of Arnór Ingi Hjartarson on behalf of the Writers' Association and Emma Björk Hjálmarsdóttir on behalf of the National Library.

The May Star is the only prize in Iceland awarded for a published book of poetry. The prize is intended to draw special attention to the flourishing poetry publishing industry in Iceland as well as the importance of returning poetry books to the National and University Library of Iceland as a mandatory deposit and thus preserving them as part of the nation's cultural heritage. The prize money is 350 thousand krónur. The initiative to establish the May Star was taken by Kári Tulinius, a poet and writer.

An exhibition of the award-winning book and the author's previous works was opened on this occasion.