Events: What’s on and dates for your diary
Events: What’s on and dates for your diary
From intimate gatherings to bustling festivals, we celebrate the best in contemporary fiction at these UK events and pop-ups featuring our prizes’ authors and books
The Booker Prize 2026 shortlist announcement
Join the judges of the Booker Prize 2026 – Chair Mary Beard and fellow panellists Raymond Antrobus, Jarvis Cocker, Rebecca Liu and Patricia Lockwood – as they announce the shortlist for this year’s prize live on stage.
For the second year running, the Booker Prize shortlist is announced live on stage at a public event at the Southbank Centre.
This year’s judges, in conversation with Booker Prize Foundation Chief Executive Gaby Wood, reveal what it is like to judge the Booker and share why each book earned its place on the Booker Prize 2026 shortlist.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London
When: 7pm on Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Tickets: From £22 plus £4 booking fee; on sale now via the Southbank Centre
Gaby Wood with Booker Prize 2025 judges: Roddy Doyle, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kiley Reid, Chris Power and Ayòbámi Adébáyò at The Booker Prize 2025 shortlist announcement event at the Southbank Centre, London.
© Dave Parry for Booker Prize Foundation
The Booker Prize 2026 shortlist at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival
Gaby Wood, Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation will host the Cheltenham Literature Festival’s annual introduction to the six shortlisted books and their authors, who will join the event both in-person and virtually.
Where: Cheltenham Literature Festival
When: 2.30pm BST on Saturday, 10 October 2026
Tickets: On sale on Wednesday, 12 August via cheltenhamfestivals.org
Iris, the Booker Prize trophy
© David Parry for the Booker Prize Foundation
The Booker Prize 2026 shortlist readings
The prize’s annual shortlist readings, which feature the six authors reading from and discussing their books, are returning for the 2026 prize season and will take place on Sunday, 8 November in the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, as part of its 75th anniversary programme. The event chair will be announced in the autumn.
Where: Southbank Centre, London
When: 7.30pm GMT on Sunday, 8 November 2026
Tickets: On sale on Thursday, 10 September via southbankcentre.co.uk.
Booker Prize 2025 Shortlist Readings event at Southbank Centre, London
© Dave Parry for Booker Prize Foundation