Mats Malm Resigns: Swedish Academy Update

STOCKHOLM, October 26, 2023 — Ingrid Carlberg is set to become the Swedish Academy’s next permanent secretary, marking a historic moment as only the second woman to hold the position. The appointment, announced today, will take effect on June 1, 2026, and follows the tenure of Mats Malm.

A New Chapter for the Guardians of Swedish Literature

The Swedish Academy prepares for a leadership transition, continuing its role in shaping the nation’s literary landscape.

• Ingrid Carlberg will assume the role of permanent secretary on June 1, 2026.
• She is the second woman to be appointed to this position in the Academy’s history.
• Mats Malm, the outgoing permanent secretary, expressed his full confidence in Carlberg’s abilities.
• Carlberg, a journalist and author, emphasized her commitment to strengthening the Swedish language and literature.

Mats Malm, who was elected a member of the Swedish Academy on October 19, 2018, and became permanent secretary on June 1, 2019, succeeding Anders Olsson, described his time in the role as a “privilege” in a press release. He voiced his strong support for Carlberg, stating he has “the greatest confidence” in her leadership.

What is the significance of Ingrid Carlberg’s appointment? Her selection represents a continued effort toward greater representation within the Swedish Academy, following the 2018 resignation of Sara Danius, the first woman to serve as permanent secretary.

Ingrid Carlberg, a journalist and author who sits on chair number 5, expressed her gratitude for the Academy’s trust. “I am extremely honored by the great trust that the Academy has shown in me,” she said in a press release. “Being its permanent secretary is a responsible task that I take on with joy and a great deal of humility. I am passionate about strengthening the Swedish language and literature. In that work, as I see it, one of the great questions of destiny of our time can be found.”

Did you know? The Swedish Academy is responsible for awarding the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The Academy’s decision signals a commitment to both continuity and evolution as it navigates its crucial role in preserving and promoting Swedish literary heritage.