13 Novels Make the 2026 Booker Prize Longlist

The 2026 Booker Prize longlist was unveiled on 28 July, featuring 13 novels by authors from Britain, Ireland, the United States, Jamaica and beyond. Among the nominees are two previous winners: Scottish‑American writer Douglas Stuart, with John of John, and Jamaican author Marlon James, with The Disappearers. Both are hoping to secure the £50,000 prize for a second time.

The longlist also includes English novelist Elizabeth Strout (The Things We Never Say), M. John Harrison (The End of Everything), Luke Kennard (Black Bag), Rebecca Perry (May We Feed the King) and Irish writer Jamel White (All Them Dogs), along with several other contenders. In total, 163 books were submitted for the 2026 prize.

The shortlist of finalists will be announced on 22 September, and the winner will be revealed at a ceremony in London on 9 November. The judging panel is chaired by classicist and writer Mary Beard.

Past Winners and New Faces in Contention

The Return of Previous Champions

Having two former winners on the longlist — Douglas Stuart, who won in 2020 with Shuggie Bain, and Marlon James, who won in 2015 with A Brief History of Seven Killings — intensifies the competition. Both authors have large followings, and their nomination is likely to draw extra attention to the prize. The Booker has a history of second wins (Hilary Mantel, J. M. Coetzee), though it remains rare.

A Diverse Field of Voices

The 2026 selection continues the Booker’s tradition of mixing established literary figures with emerging talent. The presence of M. John Harrison, a veteran genre‑blurring novelist, alongside newer voices such as Rebecca Perry and Jamel White, reflects the judges’ effort to span styles. With Mary Beard, a public intellectual known for her sharp critical eye, leading the jury, the shortlist debate could be unusually rigorous.

What Book Lovers Can Look Forward To

  • The shortlist will be revealed on 22 September, offering a narrower guide to which novel may claim the prize.
  • The winner, who will receive £50,000, will be named on 9 November in London — a date for literature fans to circle.