The Women's Prize for Fiction has released its 2026 shortlist and it's packed with brilliant books! While there are some incredible novels by well-known names such as Lily King, the majority are debuts by some of the best up-and-coming new writers around.
The panel of judges was led by former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard who is joined by poet, novelist and essayist, Mona Arshi; author, presenter, poet and speaker, Salma El-Wardany; writer, podcaster, actor and comedian, Cariad Lloyd; and author, broadcaster and DJ, Annie Macmanus.
Former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard, Chair of Judges, said: "We are delighted to present a shortlist that doesn’t shy away from examining life’s challenges, but also brings many moments of joy. As judges, we are first and foremost readers, and these novels intrigued and profoundly moved us. The plot lines kept us turning pages to find out what happens next, the characters found a place in our hearts and the stories stayed with us long after the last sentence. The incredible strength of the longlist challenged and delighted us, as we whittled down 16 books to this exceptional shortlist."
The judging panel now have the job of choosing a winner from these books, which will be announced on 11 June.
The 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
Flashlight by Susan Choi (Jonathan Cape)
This heart-breaking and original novel about a man who goes missing and the ramifications for his daughter and wife is Choi's sixth novel.
Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (Europa Editions UK)
Set in a small town in Mississippi, this powerful novel looks at the influence of a pastor and his favourite son on his community and the impact of their actions of the women who love them.
Europa Editions Dominion by Addie E Citchens
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Michael Joseph)
The wonderfully straight-talking seventysomething Sybil Van Antwerp is the heroine of this unique and charming epistolary novel. Sybil keeps the world at bay, preferring instead to communicate by letter. When her eyesight begins to go, Sybil is forced to face up to a tragedy from her past.
Michael Joseph The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson (Cassava Republic Press)
Mercy, whose wonderful voice dominates this funny and moving novel, lives with her Windrush-generation parents in a crowded household in 1960s Bradford, where her mother’s attention is stretched between church and family, and her father’s temper is something to be endured or avoided.
Cassava Republic Press The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson
Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly (Saraband)
A creative writing teacher falls under the spell of his older female colleague, despite having a loving boyfriend, in this tender unexpected debut novel.
Heart the Lover by Lily King (Canongate)
When the narrator, who’s nicknamed Jordan, meets Sam and Yash at college, it’s the beginning of a complicated triangular friendship. Years later, we see how the ramifications of Jordan’s choices have affected all three of them. A beautiful meditation on the impact of first love and second chances.
Buy your tickets now for Women's Prize Live
Women's Prize Live is returning to Bedford Square Gardens on 10 June for another day of brilliant author talks, panels and other great bookish events. Speakers this year include Candice Carty-Williams, Thangam Debbonaire, Julia Gillard, Vick Hope, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Meena Kandasamy, Elle McNicoll, Anita Rani and Kathryn Stockett, as well as all the shortlisted writers from the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
