The longlist for the International Booker Prize 2026 has been officially unveiled, showcasing a “sparkling selection” of 13 works that define the pinnacle of translated fiction, according to a statement.
Supported by Bukhman Philanthropies, this year’s list emerged from 128 submissions published in the UK and Ireland between May 2025 and April 2026.
From the mountains of Albania to the wilderness of Brazil, the 2026 contenders span centuries and continents. The selection highlights a diverse array of narratives, featuring Danish noblewomen accused of sorcery, queer Argentinian conquistadors, and Japanese novelists with “monstrous appetites.”
The 2026 Longlist
The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, trans. Ruth Martin (German)
We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, trans. Robin Myers (Spanish)
The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, trans. David McKay (Dutch)
The Deserters by Mathias Énard, trans. Charlotte Mandell (French)
Small Comfort by Ia Genberg, trans. Kira Josefsson (Swedish)
She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, trans. Izidora Angel (Bulgarian)
The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, trans. Ross Benjamin (German)
On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, trans. Padma Viswanathan (Portuguese)
The Duke by Matteo Melchiorre, trans. Antonella Lettieri (Italian)
The Witch by Marie NDiaye, trans. Jordan Stump (French)
Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur, trans. Faridoun Farrokh (Persian)
The Wax Child by Olga Ravn, trans. Martin Aitken (Danish)
Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, trans. Lin King (Mandarin Chinese)
•The International Booker Prize 2026 judges – from left: Sophie Hughes, Marcus du Sautoy, Natasha Brown, Troy Onyango and Nilanjana S. Roy – photographed at Poon’s London © Sophie Davidson for Booker Prize FoundationChair of judges, Natasha Brown, praised the “unbelievable” calibre of translated fiction currently reaching British readers.
“Whether it’s for a birthday, a book club, or the bus ride to work, I’m confident that there’s a perfect fit among these 13 brilliant books,” Brown remarked. She noted that while many titles grapple with the devastating consequences of war, the list also finds room for “Big Pharma conspiracies, witchy women, and obscure film references.”
The judging panel – which includes Sophie Hughes, Marcus du Sautoy, Troy Onyango and Nilanjana S. Roy – will now narrow the selection down to a shortlist of six, to be announced on Tuesday, March 31.
The final winner will be crowned on Tuesday, May 19 during a ceremony at London’s Tate Modern. The £50,000 prize will be split equally between the winning author and translator.
•Featured image: The International Booker Prize longlist © India Hobson for Booker Prize Foundation
