Everything you need to know about the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist
Take a closer look at the six remarkable shortlisted books – their themes, characters, settings and origins, and find out what everyone’s saying about them

Competition
We’re offering you the chance to win a set of all six books on the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist, along with a limited-edition Booker Prize tote bag
This competition is now closed.
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):