Booker Prize announces 2026 longlist of 13 novels

LONDON — The Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in English-language literature, announced its 2026 longlist, selecting 13 novels from 163 English-language submissions. Three debut authors are among the nominees, alongside past winners Douglas Stuart, Marlon James and Elizabeth Strout. The longlist also includes works by Chloe Aridjis, Emma Cline, M. John Harrison, MacKenzie Goodman, Luke Kennard, Kenan Orhan, Rebecca Perry, Gwendoline Riley, Jamal Wright and Missouri Williams. Classicist Mary Beard chairs this year's judging panel, joined by poet Raymond Antrobus, musician Jarvis Cocker, literary critic Rebecca Liu and writer Patricia Lockwood. The shortlist will be announced on September 22, with the winner revealed at a ceremony in London on November 9. The prize carries an award of £50,000. Established in 1968, the Booker was originally open to writers from the Commonwealth, Ireland and Zimbabwe before being expanded to English-language works published in the United Kingdom. Last year's winner was David Szalay for his novel "Flesh."