The 2026 Booker Prize longlist has been announced, featuring 13 novels from seven nationalities.
Among the authors are previous winners Douglas Stuart and Marlon James, alongside ten first-time nominees.
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The judging panel is chaired by classicist and broadcaster Mary Beard. She is joined by musician Jarvis Cocker, writer Raymond Antrobus, novelist Patricia Lockwood, and journalist Rebecca Liu.
Mary Beard said each of the 13 books in contention for the £50,000 award takes the reader to new places.
Reflecting on the selection process, she added, "I would not be telling the truth if I said that I hadn’t occasionally felt daunted, as a new box of 30 or so gleaming volumes landed on my doorstep."
Jarvis Cocker discussed his role on the panel, noting that his background differed from traditional literary critics.
"I was aware that I was, shall we say, the least formally qualified person on this jury, but I didn’t really let that bother me," he said.
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Cocker further explained that knowing the Booker prizes tend to create panels including people who aren’t necessarily part of the literary world helped him.
"I thought I was obviously supposed to bring something that others don’t: a different perspective," he said.
Selection and Timeline
The longlist was chosen from 163 books written in English and published in the UK or Ireland between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026.
The selection includes works from three independent publishers: Fitzcarraldo Editions, Serpent's Tail, and Granta.
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The shortlist will be announced at the Southbank Centre in London on September 22. The winner will be named at a ceremony on November 9.
