Booker Prize 2026: Longlist Announced
Thirteen novels by authors of seven nationalities feature on the 2026 Booker Prize longlist.
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The longlist for the 2026 Booker Prize has been unveiled, featuring 13 novels from authors spanning seven nationalities and three continents. This year's selection includes previous prize winners Douglas Stuart and Marlon James, alongside three-time nominee Elizabeth Strout. The collection, announced on Tuesday, is described as one that "rewards risk".
Diverse Representation and New Voices
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Of the 13 novels selected for the £50,000 award, nearly half originate from the UK. Ten of the featured writers are making their debut appearance on a Booker longlist, with three being first-time novelists: Kenan Orhan, Rebecca Perry, and Djamel White. The judging panel is chaired by classicist and broadcaster Mary Beard.
Mary Beard stated that each book on the longlist "brilliantly musters the power of words on the page to take the reader to new places, to see old places from new angles, to change minds." She also commented on the daunting nature of reviewing the submissions, noting that "a new box of 30 or so gleaming volumes landed on my doorstep."
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Marlon James is recognised for his fifth novel, "The Disappearers," which judges called "a reckoning" from "a singular literary talent." James previously won the prize in 2015 for "A Brief History of Seven Killings." Douglas Stuart, who secured the award in 2020 with his debut "Shuggie Bain," is back with his third novel, "John of John," praised for its "rich, textural detail."
Elizabeth Strout receives her third Booker nomination for "The Things We Never Say." M John Harrison, at 81, is the oldest author on the list, while 28-year-old Djamel White is the youngest and the sole Irish writer represented. Chloe Aridjis, who is Mexican-British, and Turkish-American Kenan Orhan could potentially be the first winners of their respective heritages if their books are successful.
The Judging Process and Future Dates
A total of 163 books were submitted for consideration, all written in English and published in the UK or Ireland between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026. Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, highlighted the judges' "range of tastes" and "openness of mind" in creating a list that "shows how capacious an art form the novel is."
The shortlist is scheduled to be announced at the Southbank Centre in London on September 22. The winner of the 2026 Booker Prize will be revealed at a ceremony on November 9.
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