Douglas Stuart and Marlon James lead Booker longlist of 13 novels

Previous winners Douglas Stuart and Marlon James lead the 2026 Booker Prize longlist, announced on 28 July 2026. The 13 novels in contention span seven nationalities across three continents, with nearly half of the authors from the UK. Ten writers appear on a Booker longlist for the first time, among them debut novelists Kenan Orhan, Rebecca Perry and Djamel White. Chair of judges Mary Beard praised the selection, saying each book “takes the reader to new places” and that the list “rewards risk”. The £50,000 winner will be chosen from a shortlist of six, due on 15 September 2026, with the ultimate winner revealed on 10 November 2026.