The decision was endorsed during a meeting of the Supreme Council of Culture's Higher Committee on Monday, 15 June, marking the final stage before the winners are formally selected.
Among the most closely watched categories is the Nile Award, Egypt's highest state honour in the fields of arts, literature and social sciences.
In the Arts category, former culture minister Farouk Hosny is shortlisted alongside Professor Mohamed Shaker. Hosny served as culture minister for nearly 24 years and is also known for his career as an abstract painter, with exhibitions in Europe and the Arab world.
Shaker is a visual arts scholar and academic who has held several leadership positions in higher education and has worked extensively in artistic research and fine arts education.
The Literature category features poet Mohamed El-Shahawy and literary critic Professor Youssef Noufel. El-Shahawy is known for his poetry and has received recognition across the Arab world.
Noufel is a scholar of Arabic literary criticism and comparative literature whose academic work and publications have influenced generations of students and researchers.
In the Social Sciences category, the shortlist includes political scientist Professor Ahmed Youssef and Egyptologist Professor Mamdouh El-Damaty. Youssef is known for his work on political science, Arab affairs and international relations.
El-Damaty, an archaeologist and former antiquities minister, has also contributed to archaeological research and museum development.
The Nile Award for Arab Creators includes two nominees from the region.
Iraqi poet and critic Professor Ali Jaafar Al-Alaq has worked as a poet, literary critic and academic, contributing to modern Arabic literature through both creative and scholarly work.
Representing Qatar, artist Yousef Ahmad is known for his use of Arabic calligraphy and natural materials in contemporary art. His work has been exhibited internationally.
The State Appreciation Awards shortlist includes six nominees in the Arts category: actor Mohamed Sobhi, artist Ahmed Fouad Hassan, sculptor El-Sayed Abdo Selim, artist Mohamed Abou El-Kheir, Mohamed El-Allawy, and calligrapher Khodeir El-Borsaidy.
In Literature, the nominees are Ahmed Fadl Shabloul, Gar El-Nabi El-Helou, Darwish El-Assiouty, Shaaban Youssef, Professor Marie Therese Abdel Massih, and Professor Mohamed Naguib El-Talawy.
The Social Sciences category includes Ebtesam El-Gaafarawy, Anwar Moghith, Atef Mansour, Essam El-Zenaty, Leila Abdel Meguid, Safi El-Din Kharboush, Mohamed Shoman, and Magdy El-Guiziry.
For the State Excellence Awards, the Arts shortlist comprises Ahmed Abdel Gelil, Professor Seif El-Islam Saqr, Professor Atef Awad, and Professor Mayassa Abdel Ghani.
The Literature category includes Gamil Abdel Rahman, Said Nouh, Professor Sherine Abou El-Naga, and Mohamed Abdel Hafez Nassef. In the Social Sciences category, the nominees are Professor Ahmed El-Qenawy, Professor El-Sayed El-Araby, Professor Rabab Khalifa, Professor Abdel Salam Nouir, Professor Faiza El-Husseiny, and Professor Mona El-Hadidi.
The approved shortlists will now be submitted to the Supreme Council of Culture for the final round of voting, after which the winners of Egypt's 2026 State Awards will be announced.
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