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International Booker Prize 2026 Longlist Announced
[Image Credit: thebookerprizes.com]The longlist for the prestigious International Booker Prize 2026 has been unveiled, spotlighting an eclectic selection of works that celebrate the finest achievements in translated fiction. Showcasing authors and translators from across the globe, this year’s selection reflects the prize’s enduring commitment to amplifying diverse literary voices and bringing powerful international stories to English-language readers.
Chaired by acclaimed author Natasha Brown, the 2026 judging panel includes writer and broadcaster Marcus du Sautoy, who also serves as Professor of Mathematics and Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford; translator Sophie Hughes, previously shortlisted for the International Booker Prize; writer, Lolwe editor and bookseller Troy Onyango; and novelist and columnist Nilanjana S. Roy, an award-winning voice in contemporary literature.
The judges’ longlist comprises 13 titles translated from 11 source languages, with authors and translators spanning 14 nationalities across four continents.
1. The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar
A multi-generational portrait of an Iranian family navigating revolution, exile and the quiet aftershocks of political upheaval.
2. We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara
A lyrical and subversive reimagining of faith, femininity and freedom set against the charged landscapes of Argentina.
3. The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje
An intricate literary puzzle that explores memory, identity and the lingering shadows of war.
4. The Deserters by Mathias Énard
A philosophical reflection on conflict and conscience, tracing the intertwined lives of those who turn away from war.
5. Small Comfort by Ia Genberg
An intimate meditation on friendship, illness and the fragile threads that connect lives over time.
6. She Who Remains by Rene Karabash
A haunting exploration of womanhood, endurance and the personal costs of silence.
7. The Director by Daniel Kehlmann
A sharp, imaginative portrait of artistic ambition and moral compromise under political pressure.
8. On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia
A darkly poetic tale that delves into violence, fate and the harsh realities of marginalized lives.
9. The Duke by Matteo Melchiorre
A richly textured historical narrative probing power, legacy and the weight of inheritance.
10. The Witch by Marie NDiaye
A psychologically charged story that blurs the boundaries between myth and modern womanhood.
11. Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur
A landmark feminist novel weaving together the lives of five women seeking autonomy in a repressive society.
12. The Wax Child by Olga Ravn
An unsettling and inventive narrative examining creation, motherhood and the limits of control.
13. Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ
A vibrant, genre-blending journey through colonial-era Taiwan that interrogates identity, culture and belonging.
What Happens Next
Following the announcement of the longlist, the judges will now narrow the selection to a shortlist before revealing the ultimate winner of the International Booker Prize 2026 at a ceremony later this year. As anticipation builds, the spotlight remains firmly on the shortlisted authors and translators, whose works exemplify the richness, range and global power of literature in translation.