To celebrate the announcement of the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist, we are giving away five sets of the shortlisted books and a limited-edition, money-can’t-buy Booker Prize tote bag, featuring illustrations by artist Iris de Moüy.

Each year the International Booker Prize introduces readers to the best novels and short story collections from around the world that have been translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland. This year’s prize is supported by Bukhman Philanthropies. 

Chair of judges Natasha Brown said, ‘With narratives that capture moments from across the past century, these books reverberate with history. While there’s heartbreak, brutality and isolation among these stories, their lasting effect is energising.’ 

This competition is open to readers anywhere in the world. To be in with a chance of winning, simply enter your details below by 12:00 BST on Thursday, 16 April, 2026. Winners will be chosen at random.

This competition is a free draw, with only one entry allowed per person, and we reserve the right to disqualify any entries where we suspect one person has used a number of different email addresses. Use or attempted use of any automated or other non-manual entry methods is prohibited.  

The draw is governed by our general rules for competitions, available here, but the following specifics also apply (and take precedence should there be any contradiction or ambiguity):

• There will be five winners, selected at random from entries received before 12:00 BST on Thursday, 16 April, 2026. Entries received after this time will not be eligible.
• Five winners will receive the six titles (in their current UK editions) on the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist, and a Booker Prize tote bag.
• Entrants must be 18 or over, and we reserve the right to ask for proof of age at any point in the competition; prize-winners should be aware of adult themes within the longlisted titles, particularly if sharing the books with other readers.
• The five winners competition is open to those resident in or outside the UK subject to the proviso that an entry is not eligible if it is from a resident in a country or jurisdiction where this free draw may breach any local law or regulation.  
• Winners will be notified by email no later than 12:00 BST (UK time) on Thursday, 23 April, 2026, and must promptly provide a fully operative postal address for delivery of their prize. If we have not received this within seven days of us notifying a winner, we will have no obligation to deliver the prize and at our sole discretion, we may select a further winner to receive the prize concerned or simply decide not to give it.
• We can only undertake to do what is reasonable in all the circumstances to deliver the five winner prizes to a location outside the UK.
• We cannot ship to PO Box addresses; winners are required to provide a bricks-and-mortar/physical address for prize(s) to be dispatched to.
• Bearing in mind, among other things, the value of the prize itself in relation to cost of delivery, we reserve the right (and this is determined at our sole discretion) to ask a winner to provide an alternative address for delivery to a person/location where the cost is proportionate.
• Winners are responsible for any taxes or duties they may have to pay in order to take receipt of their prize.
• The prizes are non-cash exchangeable.
• While we will use our best endeavours to despatch prizes as soon as possible once all titles have been received from the publishers. Entrants should note that current expected publication dates mean that despatch is likely to be late April; further, no responsibility can be accepted for entries delayed or lost.
• We are not responsible for any damage to the prize in the course of delivery; while we will consider a request for a replacement (if available) if the prize arrives in a seriously damaged state, this is solely in our discretion depending on the particular circumstances.
• These terms and conditions are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of England & Wales, and the courts of England & Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction in determining any question or issue in relation to them.
• We may in due course and at our sole discretion publicise the names of the winners and their location (in general terms, not specific addresses) on our website and/or social media channels and by entering the competition an entrant agrees to this publicity should they be a prize-winner.