Booker Prize Longlist Drops: 13 Books, Two Former Champs, and a Whole Lot of Words

Well, bibliophiles, it's that time of year again. The Booker Prize has unveiled its longlist for 2026, and it's a baker's dozen of literary contenders. From dark thrillers to dystopian futures and — because what's a literary prize without a little romance? — love stories, this list is apparently here to take you places.

Leading the charge are a couple of familiar faces who clearly haven't had enough of the Booker spotlight. Douglas Stuart, who snagged the top honor in 2020 for Shuggie Bain, is back. As is Marlon James, the 2015 victor for A Brief History of Seven Killings. Because if at first you do succeed, why not try, try again? Elizabeth Strout is also making her third appearance on the longlist with The Things We Never Say, proving some authors just have a knack for getting noticed.

But it's not all seasoned pros. Three debut novelists managed to sneak their way onto the list, which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying for their bank accounts if they actually win. The chair of this year's judges, Mary Beard, noted that these writers wield words with power, whisking readers away to new realms or making them see the mundane with fresh eyes. Which is exactly what you want from a book, really.

For those not in the know, the Booker Prize is awarded annually to a book published in English in the UK or Ireland. This year's winner, David Szalay, just picked up the 2025 prize for Flesh. So, the stakes are high, the prose is presumably exquisite, and someone's life is about to get a lot more interesting.

The Chosen 13: Who's Up for the Big One?

Six authors will eventually make the shortlist, each pocketing a cool $3,300. Not too shabby for a consolation prize. The grand reveal of the ultimate winner goes down on November 9 in London, where one very fortunate soul will walk away with roughly $66,000. That's a lot of fancy pens. Or, you know, rent.

Here's the full lineup of books hoping to snag that prestigious literary crown:

• The Shadow of the Object, Chloe Aridjis
• Switzy, Emma Cline
• Helen of Nowhere, Makenna Goodman
• The End of Everything, M. John Harrison
• The Disappearers, Marlon James
• Black Bag, Luke Kennard
• The Renovation, Kenan Orhan
• May We Feed the King, Rebecca Perry
• The Palm House, Gwendoline Riley
• The Things We Never Say, Elizabeth Strout
• John of John, Douglas Stuart
• All Them Dogs, Djamel White
• The Vivisectors, Missouri Williams

So, clear your schedules and perhaps your nightstands. It seems you've got some reading to do.