Headshots of the authors and translators longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2026, presented against a map background

Get to know the authors and translators longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2026

The longlist for the International Booker Prize 2026, supported by Bukhman Philanthropies, features a selection of 13 superb works of fiction, translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland between 1 May 2025 and 30 April 2026.

From witchcraft to war, revolution to renewal, magic to murder, this year’s longlisted books travel across continents and centuries. They use our collective histories to shine a light on our current preoccupations, and on the power imbalances that stem from gender, money and geopolitical forces.

You can read interviews with all of the authors and translators longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2026 here.

Published March 16, 2026

The Nights are Quiet in Tehran book cover with the author Shida Bazyar and translator Ruth Martin

An interview with Shida Bazyar and Ruth Martin, author and translator of The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator discuss how real life feeds into fiction, why translation cultivates empathy, and the writers that ignited their love of books

We Are Green and Trembling book cover and the author Gabriela Cabezón Cámara and translator Robin Myers

An interview with Gabriela Cabezón Cámara and Robin Myers, author and translator of We Are Green and Trembling

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator share their inspirations and influences, and discuss how fiction can cross borders of history, culture, gender and class

The Remembered Soldier book cover and the author Anjet Daanj and translator David McKaye

An interview with Anjet Daanje and David McKay, author and translator of The Remembered Soldier

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator reflect on their writing processes and influences, and discuss how translated fiction can expand our horizons

The Deserters book cover and the author Mathias Énard and translator Charlotte Mandell

An interview with Mathias Énard and Charlotte Mandell, author and translator of The Deserters

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator reflect on their longlisted novel’s different voices and layers, and how fiction resists rigidity

Composite showing the front cover of Small Comfort, alongside photos of its author and translator, Ia Genberg and Kira Josefsson

An interview with Ia Genberg and Kira Josefsson, author and translator of Small Comfort

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator on their influences, how translation can dissolve divisions, and the writers whose work they always look out for

She Who Remains book cover and the author Rene Karabash and the translator Izidora Angel

An interview with Rene Karabash and Izidora Angel, author and translator of She Who Remains

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator discuss the visceral conversations translation can open up, and the books that made them fall in love with reading

The Director book cover and author Daniel Kehlmann and the translator Ross Benjamin

An interview with Daniel Kehlmann and Ross Benjamin, author and translator of The Director

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator discuss moral slipperiness and everyday complicities, and how to recreate a lost film on paper

On Earth As It Is Beneath book with the author Ana Paula Maia and translator Padma Viswanathan

An interview with Ana Paula Maia and Padma Viswanathan, author and translator of On Earth As It Is Beneath

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator discuss who and what inspires them most, and why contemporary international fiction isn’t just for nerds

The Duke book cover and the author Matteo Melchiorre and the translator Antonella Lettieri

An interview with Matteo Melchiorre and Antonella Lettieri, author and translator of The Duke

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator on writing about life on the margins, and how the hyperlocal can allow us to think global

The Witch book cover and the author Marie NDiaye and translator Jordan Stump

An interview with Marie NDiaye and Jordan Stump, author and translator of The Witch

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator on everyday family life as inspiration, and how to mix the banal with the magical

Women Without Men book cover and the author Shahrnush Parsipur and translator Faridoun Farrokh

An interview with Shahrnush Parsipur and Faridoun Farrokh, author and translator of Women Without Men

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator on the importance of Iranian women writers, and the books originally written in Persian that everyone should read

The Wax Child book cover and the author Olga Ravn and the translator Martin Aitken

An interview with Olga Ravn and Martin Aitken, author and translator of The Wax Child

The International Booker Prize 2026 nominated author and translator on folk magic and non-human characters, and on accessing other realms through translated fiction

Taiwan Travelogue book cover and the author Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and the translator Lin King

An interview with Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and Lin King, author and translator of Taiwan Travelogue

The International Booker Prize 2026 winning author and translator on untangling complex colonial histories, and why reading books in translation is the best kind of travel

Get to know the authors and translators longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2026

An interview with Shida Bazyar and Ruth Martin, author and translator of The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran

An interview with Gabriela Cabezón Cámara and Robin Myers, author and translator of We Are Green and Trembling

An interview with Anjet Daanje and David McKay, author and translator of The Remembered Soldier

An interview with Mathias Énard and Charlotte Mandell, author and translator of The Deserters

An interview with Ia Genberg and Kira Josefsson, author and translator of Small Comfort

An interview with Rene Karabash and Izidora Angel, author and translator of She Who Remains

An interview with Daniel Kehlmann and Ross Benjamin, author and translator of The Director

An interview with Ana Paula Maia and Padma Viswanathan, author and translator of On Earth As It Is Beneath

An interview with Matteo Melchiorre and Antonella Lettieri, author and translator of The Duke

An interview with Marie NDiaye and Jordan Stump, author and translator of The Witch

An interview with Shahrnush Parsipur and Faridoun Farrokh, author and translator of Women Without Men

An interview with Olga Ravn and Martin Aitken, author and translator of The Wax Child

An interview with Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and Lin King, author and translator of Taiwan Travelogue

Read more about the International Booker Prize 2026

Everything you need to know about the International Booker Prize 2026 longlist

Quiz: Which book from the International Booker Prize 2026 longlist should you read first?

Read extracts from the International Booker Prize 2026 longlist

What our judges said about the International Booker Prize 2026 longlist

‘Reading is an act of border crossing’: meet the International Booker Prize 2026 judges

Get to know the authors and translators longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2026

An interview with Shida Bazyar and Ruth Martin, author and translator of The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran

An interview with Gabriela Cabezón Cámara and Robin Myers, author and translator of We Are Green and Trembling

An interview with Anjet Daanje and David McKay, author and translator of The Remembered Soldier

An interview with Mathias Énard and Charlotte Mandell, author and translator of The Deserters

An interview with Ia Genberg and Kira Josefsson, author and translator of Small Comfort

An interview with Rene Karabash and Izidora Angel, author and translator of She Who Remains

An interview with Daniel Kehlmann and Ross Benjamin, author and translator of The Director

An interview with Ana Paula Maia and Padma Viswanathan, author and translator of On Earth As It Is Beneath

An interview with Matteo Melchiorre and Antonella Lettieri, author and translator of The Duke

An interview with Marie NDiaye and Jordan Stump, author and translator of The Witch

An interview with Shahrnush Parsipur and Faridoun Farrokh, author and translator of Women Without Men

An interview with Olga Ravn and Martin Aitken, author and translator of The Wax Child

An interview with Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and Lin King, author and translator of Taiwan Travelogue

Read more about the International Booker Prize 2026

Everything you need to know about the International Booker Prize 2026 longlist

Quiz: Which book from the International Booker Prize 2026 longlist should you read first?

Read extracts from the International Booker Prize 2026 longlist

What our judges said about the International Booker Prize 2026 longlist

‘Reading is an act of border crossing’: meet the International Booker Prize 2026 judges

Features

10 Booker Prize-nominated books that explore sapphic love

Everything you need to know about Taiwan Travelogue, winner of the International Booker Prize 2026

How independent publishers have become the cornerstone of the International Booker Prize

Watch the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist films

Reading guide: The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated by Jordan Stump

Read extracts from the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist

Reading guide: The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated by Ruth Martin

Get to know the authors and translators shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2026

What our judges said about the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist

Everything you need to know about the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist

Reading guide: The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross Benjamin

Reading guide: Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Lin King

Reading guide: She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated by Izidora Angel

Reading guide: On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated by Padma Viswanathan

Discover our reading guides for the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist

An interview with Olga Ravn and Martin Aitken, author and translator of The Wax Child

An interview with Ana Paula Maia and Padma Viswanathan, author and translator of On Earth As It Is Beneath

An interview with Daniel Kehlmann and Ross Benjamin, author and translator of The Director

An interview with Shida Bazyar and Ruth Martin, author and translator of The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran

An interview with Ia Genberg and Kira Josefsson, author and translator of Small Comfort

An interview with Marie NDiaye and Jordan Stump, author and translator of The Witch

An interview with Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and Lin King, author and translator of Taiwan Travelogue

An interview with Anjet Daanje and David McKay, author and translator of The Remembered Soldier

An interview with Gabriela Cabezón Cámara and Robin Myers, author and translator of We Are Green and Trembling

An interview with Shahrnush Parsipur and Faridoun Farrokh, author and translator of Women Without Men

An interview with Rene Karabash and Izidora Angel, author and translator of She Who Remains

An interview with Mathias Énard and Charlotte Mandell, author and translator of The Deserters

An interview with Matteo Melchiorre and Antonella Lettieri, author and translator of The Duke

An extract from Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Lin King

An extract from The Wax Child by Olga Ravn, translated by Martin Aitken

An extract from Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur, translated by Faridoun Farrokh

An extract from The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated by Jordan Stump

An extract from The Duke by Matteo Melchiorre, translated by Antonella Lettieri

An extract from On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated by Padma Viswanathan

An extract from The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross Benjamin

An extract from She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated by Izidora Angel

An extract from Small Comfort by Ia Genberg, translated by Kira Josefsson

An extract from The Deserters by Mathias Énard, translated by Charlotte Mandell

An extract from The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, translated by David McKay

An extract from We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated by Robin Myers

An extract from The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated by Ruth Martin

Quiz: Which book from the International Booker Prize 2026 longlist should you read first?

What our judges said about the International Booker Prize 2026 longlist

Everything you need to know about the International Booker Prize 2026 longlist

An extract from Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Lin King

An extract from The Wax Child by Olga Ravn, translated by Martin Aitken

An extract from Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur, translated by Faridoun Farrokh

An extract from The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated by Jordan Stump

An extract from The Duke by Matteo Melchiorre, translated by Antonella Lettieri

An extract from On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated by Padma Viswanathan

An extract from The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross Benjamin

An extract from She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated by Izidora Angel

An extract from Small Comfort by Ia Genberg, translated by Kira Josefsson

An extract from The Deserters by Mathias Énard, translated by Charlotte Mandell

An extract from The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, translated by David McKay

An extract from We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated by Robin Myers