Booker Prize shortlist announced and authors from UK dominate the list

• The 2026 Booker Prize shortlist has been announced by a judging panel chaired by classicist Mary Beard, featuring six diverse works of fiction selected from 163 total submissions.
• At 81 years old, sci-fi author M John Harrison could become the oldest winner in the prize's 57-year history for his first-time nominated speculative novel, The End of Everything.
• The shortlist features two previous Booker Prize winners, Marlon James for The Disappearers and Douglas Stuart for John of John, positioning either author to potentially become a two-time recipient.
• Completing the shortlist are American author Elizabeth Strout for The Things We Never Say, Luke Kennard for Black Bag, and former trampolinist Rebecca Perry, who is the sole debut novelist nominated for May We Feed the King.
• The winner of the prestigious £50,000 prize will be announced on November 9, following a judging process that favored risk and variety while omitting notable longlisted works like Emma Cline's Switzy.

IN FULL

This year’s Booker prize shortlist could feature oldest ever winner