On this page you’ll find the rules, eligibility criteria, deadlines and submissions process for entering the Bukhman International Booker Prize
Enter the Booker Prize
Enter the Booker Prize
On this page you’ll find the rules, eligibility criteria, deadlines and submissions process for entering the Booker Prize
The Booker Prize is awarded annually by the Booker Prize Foundation to the best – in the opinion of the judges – eligible work of long-form fiction.
The work must be written originally in English by an author of any nationality and published in the UK and/or Ireland.
Only publishers can submit entries to the Booker Prize. Authors and agents are not permitted to enter directly.
Enter the Booker Prize 2026
Submissions for the Booker Prize 2026 are now closed.
Eligible works were those published between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026.
Please note a change in the eligibility period for future years:
Starting with the next prize cycle – the Booker Prize 2027 – due to feedback from readers and in consultation with our advisory committee, the eligibility period will change so that it aligns with the longlist announcement date in July, ensuring readers can access the books before the shortlist announcement in September. For the Booker Prize 2027, the eligibility period will be 1 October 2026 to 31 July 2027. And then for the Booker Prize 2028, the eligibility period will be 1 August 2027 to 31 July 2028.
Rules
You can download the rules for entering the Booker Prize 2026 below.
Download the Booker Prize 2026 rules and submission criteria (pdf)
Announcement dates
Longlist announcement: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Shortlist announcement: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Winner announcement and ceremony: Monday, 9 November 2026
Publisher queries
Please contact the Booker Prize Foundation: [email protected]
