Two Nobel prizes in literature will be awarded this year to make up for the failure to choose a laureate in 2018 following a sexual scandal that hit the Swedish academy.

Last year, the Nobel Foundation prevented the Swedish academy from awarding the literature prize and threatened to strip it of its role after the husband of one of its members had been convicted of rape and amid allegations that the names of prize winners had been leaked.

A series of resignations left the Academy with fewer than the required 12 members to select and announce a winner.

"The Nobel Foundation's board of directors believe the steps that the Swedish Academy has taken and intends to take will create good opportunities for restoring trust in it as a prize-awarding institution," the foundation said in a statement.

"The Nobel Prize in Literature will once again be awarded, and this autumn Laureates for both 2018 and 2019 will be announced."