The Booker Prize 2026 shortlist is announced
Marlon James, Douglas Stuart, Elizabeth Strout, M John Harrison, Luke Kennard and debut novelist Rebecca Perry are on the 2026 Booker Prize shortlist.
The shortlist for the 2026 Booker Prize was announced on 22 September 2026. The six books are The End of Everything by M John Harrison, The Disappearers by Marlon James, Black Bag by Luke Kennard, May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry, The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout and John of John by Douglas Stuart.
Two of the six are former winners: James won in 2015 for A Brief History of Seven Killings and Stuart in 2020 for Shuggie Bain. Strout was shortlisted in 2022 and longlisted in 2016. Rebecca Perry, a poet, is the only debut novelist on the list, and Luke Kennard is also a poet as well as a novelist. The books range from post-apocalyptic fiction to a campus comedy.
Each shortlisted author receives £2,500 and a specially bound copy of their book. The winner, who receives £50,000, is due to be announced on 9 November 2026. The judges are chaired by Mary Beard.
Two poets on a novel prize shortlist is a small but interesting detail. Writers move between forms more than the categories of the book trade suggest, and a first novel written by someone with years of practice in another form is a rather different thing from a first book. Readers have a varied six to choose from before November.
Source: NPR: The 2026 Booker Prize shortlist is 'writing at its best'.