The Center for Fiction has revealed the seven-book shortlist for its 2026 First Novel Prize, highlighting notable debut fiction evaluated by a panel of judges including R. O. Kwon, Kiese Laymon, Jordy Rosenberg and Danzy Senna, per lithub.com.
Every shortlisted author receives $1,000.
The overall winner will be announced in December and awarded $15,000 to support their creative career and contribution to contemporary literature.
The 2026 shortlist features Emeline Atwood for A Real Animal published by Catapult, Samantha Josephs for Carrying from G. P. Putnam’s Sons, and T Kira Madden for Whidbey released by Mariner Books.
Additional finalists include Giada Scodellaro for Ruins, Child by New Directions Publishing, Avigayl Sharp for Offseason published by Astra House, Ankur Thakkar for Blow Yourself Up from TriQuarterly Books, and Nafissa Thompson-Spires for The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford by Scribner.