Sahitya Akademi Award is given each year, since 1955, by Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters), to writers and their works, for their outstanding contribution to the upliftment of Indian literature and Kannada literature in particular.[1]
(No awards were given in 1957 and 1963). A total of 55 Sahitya Akademi Awards have been received by Kannada Writers.
| Year | Author | Work |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Kuvempu | Sri Ramayana Darshanam (Epic) |
| 1956 | R. S. Mugali | Kannada Sahitya Charitre (History of Literature) |
| 1958 | D. R. Bendre | Aralu-Maralu (Poetry) |
| 1959 | K. Shivaram Karanth | Yakshagana Bayalata (A treatise on folk-drama) |
| 1960 | V. K. Gokak | Dyava-Prithivi (Poetry) |
| 1961 | A. R. Krishnashastry | Bengali Kadambarikara Bankim Chandra (A critical study) |
| 1962 | Devudu Narasimha Sastri | Mahakshatriya (Novel) |
| 1964 | B. Puttaswamayya | Kranti-Kalyana (Novel) |
| 1965 | S. V. Ranganna | Ranga Binnapa (Philosophical reflections) |
| 1966 | P. T. Narasimhachar | Hamsa Damayanti Mattu Itara Rupakagalu (Musical plays) |
| 1967 | D. V. Gundappa | Shrimad Bhagavadgita Tatparya Athava Jivanadharmayoga (Philosophical expositions) |
| 1968 | Masti Venkatesha Iyengar | Sannakathegalu (12-13) (Short stories) |
| 1969 | H. Tipperudraswamy | Karnataka Samskriti Sameekshe (Cultural Study) |
| 1970 | S. B. Joshi | Karnataka Samskritiya Poorva Peethike (Cultural Study) |
| 1971 | Adya Rangacharya | Kalidasa (Literary criticism) |
| 1972 | S. S. Bhoosnurmath | Shoonyasampadaneya Paramarshe (Commentary) |
| 1973 | V. Sitaramaiah | Aralu Baralu (Poetry) |
| 1974 | Gopalakrishna Adiga | Vardhamaana (Poetry) |
| 1975 | S. L. Bhyrappa | Daatu (Novel) |
| 1976 | M. Shivaram | Mana Manthana (Psychiatric studies) |
| 1977 | K. S. Narasimhaswamy | Tereda Baagilu (Poetry) |
| 1978 | B. G. L. Swamy | Hasuru Honnu (Travelogue) |
| 1979 | A. N. Murthy Rao | Chitragalu Patragalu (Reminiscences) |
| 1980 | Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar | Americadalli Goruru (Travelogue) |
| 1981 | Chennaveera Kanavi | Jeewa Dhwani (Poetry) |
| 1982 | Chaduranga | Vaishakha (Novel) |
| 1983 | Yashwant Chittal | Katheyaadalu Hudugi (Short stories) |
| 1984 | G. S. Shivarudrappa | Kavyartha Chintana (Literary criticism) |
| 1985 | T. R. Subba Rao | Durgaasthamaana (Novel) |
| 1986 | Vyasaraya Ballal | Bandaya (Novel) |
| 1987 | Poornachandra Tejaswi | Chidambara Rahasya (Novel) |
| 1988 | Shankar Mokashi Punekar | Avadheshwari (Novel) |
| 1989 | H. M. Nayak | Samprati (Belles- Lettres) |
| 1990 | Devanur Mahadeva | Kusuma Bale (Novel) |
| 1991 | Chandrashekhara Kambara | Sirisampige (Play) |
| 1992 | S. R. Ekkundi | Bakulada Hoovugalu (Poetry) |
| 1993 | P. Lankesh | Kallu Karaguva Samaya (Short stories) |
| 1994 | Girish Karnad | Taledanda (Play) |
| 1995 | Kirtinath Kurtakoti | Uriya Nalage (Criticism) |
| 1996 | G. S. Amur | Bhuvanada Bhagya (Literary Criticism) |
| 1997 | M. Chidananda Murthy | Hosatu Hosatu (Criticism) |
| 1998 | B. C. Ramchandra Sharma | Sapthapadi (Poetry) |
| 1999 | D. R. Nagaraj | Sahitya Kathana (Essays) |
| 2000 | Shantinath Kuberappa Desai | Om Namo (Novel) |
| 2001 | L. S. Seshagiri Rao | English Sahitya Charitre (Literary history) |
| 2002 | S. Narayana Setty | Yugasandhya (Epic) |
| 2003 | K. V. Subbanna | Kaviraja Marga Mattu Kannada, Jagattu (Essays) |
| 2004 | Geetha Nagabhushana | Baduku (Novel) |
| 2005 | Raghavendra Patil | Teru (Novel) |
| 2006 | M. M. Kalburgi | Marga - 4 (Essays) |
| 2007 | K. Veerabhadrappa | Aramane (Novel) |
| 2008 | Shrinivas B. Vaidya[2] | Halla Bantu Halla (Novel) |
| 2009 | Vaidehi [3] | Krouncha Pakshigalu (Short Stories) |
| 2010 | Bolwar [4] | Paapu Gandhi Gandhi Baapu Aada Kathe (Children's Literature) |
| 2011 | Gopalkrishna pai | Swapna Saarasvata (Novel) |