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Women's Prize for Fiction 2026 Longlist Announced
[Image Credit: womensprize.com]The Women’s Prize for Fiction has unveiled its 2026 longlist, featuring 16 novels that reflect the breadth and diversity of contemporary women’s writing. Selected from books published in the UK over the past year, the list spans themes from climate change and political upheaval to identity, migration and family relationships. Chaired by former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard, the judging panel highlighted the longlist as a “treasure trove” of storytelling, with seven debut novels and nine titles from independent publishers. The shortlist will be announced on 22 April, while the winner of the £30,000 prize will be revealed in June 2026.
The Longlist is as follows:
1. Gloria Don’t Speak by Lucy Apps
A debut novel exploring grief, silence and complicated family relationships.
2. Paradiso 17 by Hannah Lillith Assadi
A surreal and politically charged story set in an unusual desert community.
3. Moderation by Elaine Castillo
A near-future novel examining technology, artificial intelligence and human intimacy.
4. Flashlight by Susan Choi
A geopolitical family saga that explores memory, secrets and international tensions.
5. Dominion by Addie E. Citchens
A historical narrative following a Black family’s search for autonomy and belonging.
6. The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine
A contemporary novel examining class, privilege and the aftermath of a violent crime. A contemporary novel examining class, privilege and the aftermath of a violent crime.
7. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
A character-driven story told through letters that reveals a woman’s life and relationships.
8. The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson
A socially engaged novel centred on identity, justice and intergenerational trauma.
9. The Others by Sheena Kalayil
A suspenseful exploration of isolation and belonging set in a mysterious coastal town.
10. Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly
A lyrical story about love, loss and the search for meaning in contemporary life.
11. Heart the Lover by Lily King
A campus romance that follows a love story stretching from youth into mid-life.
12. Audition by Katie Kitamura
A psychologically sharp novel about performance, identity and the nature of self.
13. A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar
A political thriller-like narrative set against contemporary social tensions.
14. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
A climate-themed story set on a remote island confronting environmental collapse.
15. The Best of Everything by Kit de Waal
A moving portrait of a Caribbean woman building a life in 1970s Birmingham.
16. A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang
A genre-blending novel weaving folklore, politics and colonial history.
The prize, widely regarded as one of the most prestigious literary awards, continues to spotlight outstanding storytelling and amplify women’s voices in contemporary fiction.